The Night-Time Economy Accelerator for Councils is a knowledge and capacity‑building program designed for council officers across NSW. It aims to deepen participants’ understanding of the night‑time economy and provide opportunities to learn from subject‑matter experts and fellow local government representatives about successful initiatives and strategies.
Over the 14‑week Accelerator, council officers will gain practical tools and insights to help deliver night‑time economy outcomes that reflect the unique character and strengths of the places they manage.
For more information, including eligibility criteria and the application process, please refer to the Guidelines. (PDF 4.22MB) Places will be allocated on a first‑come, first‑served basis, with a maximum of 30 councils participating in this Accelerator to enable interactive learning. To encourage a broad geographic spread, 10 places will be reserved for participants from regional NSW Local Government Areas (LGAs).
The program begins in April 2026 with an in‑person bootcamp in Sydney on Wednesday 22 April and Thursday 23 April. This will be followed by 6 online masterclasses and 6 online follow‑up and ‘Ask Me Anything’ sessions over the subsequent 12 weeks, concluding in July 2026.
Program content
Workshops will cover 6 modules:
- Using data to tell your night-time economy story
- Strategies to grow your local night-time economy
- Building safe, vibrant night-time precincts: Governance that works
- Planning for vibrant precincts
- Drafting a powerful night-time economy narrative
- Activating your precincts and places.
Program benefits
The intended benefits include:
- learn how to advocate for the value of your night-time economy within council and community
- gain access to data about your local night-time economy (including building a night-time economy profile for your LGA and coaching on how to apply data to your local area)
- learn how to measure and monitor your local night-time economy
- support you to develop, refresh and deliver a Night-Time Economy Strategy, or integrate the night-time economy as a key pillar into an Economic Development Plan or Visitor Economy Strategy
- understand the various NSW Government initiatives and programs that can help create vibrancy after dark and which programs will be most relevant to your LGA (i.e. Uptown Program, Community Improvement Districts, Special Entertainment Precincts or Purple Flag)
- learn from other councils about initiatives, programs or reforms that have successfully helped develop their local night-time economies
- foster strong relations with council officers across NSW who are also actively driving their local night-time economies
- become your local council’s night-time economy and data champion.
Key Dates
Activity | Details | Date |
|---|---|---|
Applications open | Application form available (online) | 16 February 2026 |
Applications close | Application form must be completed and submitted (online) | 27 March 2026 |
Program starts | In-person ‘bootcamp’ in Sydney | 22-23 April 2026 |
Masterclass series | Online, fortnightly (Mondays 11am-12noon) | 4 May to 14 July 2026 |
Follow up coaching sessions and Ask Me Anything series | Online, alternate fortnight (Mondays 11am-12noon) | 11 May to 20 July 2026 |
Online drop-in sessions | Online, quarterly | 24 August and 23 November 2026 |
Who is this program for?
Employees from local government authorities from any jurisdiction in NSW. We encourage officers from all councils across NSW to apply.
The program is open to councils at any stage of their journey of supporting their night-time economy, from those just exploring their evening economy, to those with globally recognised 24-hour economy precincts.
The ideal candidates are working in roles that support night-time economies, including:
- economic development
- tourism
- place management
- community development (including community safety)
- strategic planning
- statutory (DA) planning or compliance
- arts and culture
- events.
We encourage a cross-section of council business units to apply. There can be up to 2 officers from one council participating.
Eligibility
Prospective participants must:
- be employees from LGAs from any jurisdiction in NSW
- be able to travel to Sydney for the 1.5-day program bootcamp
- have completed the Local Government NTE Diagnostic Tool within the last 3 months
- have obtained written endorsement from a senior manager within council (i.e. Director or equivalent) to participate in the Accelerator.
Refer to the ‘Commitment requirements for council officers’ section in the Guidelines (PDF 4.22MB) for full eligibility criteria.
Regional participants travel support
If your council is located outside Greater Sydney and you are a successful applicant, you may be able to access one night's accommodation to attend the in-person bootcamp in Sydney.
If your council is located outside Greater Sydney and you live more than a 4-hour drive from Sydney, and you are a successful applicant, you may be able to access return airfares to Sydney to attend the in-person bootcamp in Sydney.
The above-mentioned travel is subject to eligibility criteria outlined in the Guidelines (PDF 4.22MB), where you can find more information.
Applicant information sessions
Online sessions were held on 26 February, 3 March and 10 March and covered an overview of the Accelerator, eligibility requirements and how to apply, followed by a question and answer session.
Night-Time Economy Accelerator for Councils Information Session
Expert-led masterclasses
The Accelerator will include 6 fortnightly online masterclasses which will be delivered by experts in their fields. Each masterclass will run for an hour, will be interactive, and will highlight inspiring examples of council work in each area.
Using data to tell your night-time economy story
Data is essential to understanding the unique features of your local night-time economy (NTE) and what impact your programs and strategies are having on its growth. Find out what data is available to you to define and measure your 24-hour economy, whether it is focused on the morning economy or orientated around late night experience.
Masterclass facilitator: Dr Anna Edwards (Ingenium). Dr Edwards works with councils across Australia to help them measure and understand their NTEs, including Council of Capital City Lord Mayors.
Strategies to grow your local night-time economy
What is the most effective approach to grow your local NTE and considerations matter most for your local context? What format best suits your councils, whether a dedicated NTE/24-hour strategy or a pillar in an economic or visitor economy strategy? Learn from councils that are developing and implementing NTE strategies across NSW, what has worked and what could be done differently.
Masterclass facilitator: John O’Callaghan, Director of JOC Consulting, John has worked on night-time economy strategies for Burwood, Logan and Penrith and contributed to the NSW Government’s Night-Time Economy Strategy Template.
Building safe, vibrant night-time precincts: Governance that works
What does effective governance really look like in a thriving night-time economy, and how do we move beyond ad hoc responses to create places that are safe, inclusive and vibrant after dark? Explore how well-designed governance structures can improve safety, support businesses, and enhance the cultural and social vibrancy of night-time entertainment precincts. Participants will learn from councils and business collectives that have successfully achieved Purple Flag accreditation, with the session unpacking practical strategies for maintaining momentum, accountability and shared ownership to co-produce positive outcomes for their nightlife precincts.
Masterclass facilitator: Dr Phillip Wadds is Associate Professor of Criminology at UNSW Sydney. Phillip is an award-winning researcher and policy advisor on night-time economy and music festival safety, with extensive experience translating evidence into practice to reduce nightlife harms across the country. As an advisor and lead assessor for Purple Flag, his work has shaped national conversations on how to improve safety without sacrificing the creativity, diversity and energy that make night-time precincts thrive.
Planning for vibrant precincts
Learn what makes a place become a globally recognised nightlife hub, featuring Burwood CBD’s transformation into the “coolest neighbourhood” in Australia and 16th in the world, according to Time Out. Hear about the planning tools, such as Special Entertainment Precincts and wider Vibrancy Reforms, which can nurture, activate and protect places day and night.
Masterclass facilitator: Miriam Wassef, Director People & Performance at Burwood Council. Miriam has 12 years’ experience in local government, where she has led the development of the nationally recognised License to Play Policy and Burwood’s first, award winning Night-Time Economy Strategy Burwood After Dark. Miriam and her team are currently driving the establishment of Burwood’s first Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP), supported by a new experience led destination platform, while also pursuing Purple Flag accreditation.
Drafting a powerful NTE narrative
Great NTEs aren’t built by chance; they’re built by people, including those inside council who can articulate value, align stakeholders and tell a compelling story. This masterclass will equip council officers with the confidence, language and tools to lead meaningful change after dark.
Masterclass facilitator: Carl Solomon, Director Destination Store, which crafts award-winning brand, marketing and destination strategies that make communities glow and appeal to the travellers they want. Carl specialises in unpacking the ‘who and what’ makes a place remarkable, now and into the future. His clients have included a wide range of places, precincts and organisations, from emerging to regional and international destinations.
Activating your precincts and places
Events and activations are a great way to drive visitation, to encourage local businesses to open later and to celebrate local creativity – embedding a place in its community. This masterclass will outline the specialist skills for programming and activating spaces which are deeply rooted in storytelling and community connection, through examples such as Newcastle’s flagship cultural festival New Annual and Carriageworks, a multipurpose arts centre.
Masterclass facilitator: Tory Loudon, New Annual Festival Director, City of Newcastle. Tory has 30 years of placemaking, festival curation and cultural tourism programming experience, having curated flagship night-time activations, including delivery of New Annual Festival Newcastle and VIVID Sydney ideas.
- Each council can only submit one application.
- Council participants should be listed in the one application.
- Prior to filling out this form, you must have completed the Online Diagnostic Tool and have results ready to be supplied. To complete the Diagnostic Tool will require information-gathering and time (up to 2 hours).
- This form does not allow multiple visits. You cannot save as a draft and reopen it later. All information must be inputted in a single session. You may wish to review the questions and gather your information in a Word document before starting.
Frequently asked questions
About the Accelerator
By participating in the Accelerator, council officers will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to help achieve night-time economy (NTE) outcomes that fit the character and strengths of the places they manage.
All participants who complete the Accelerator will leave with:
- a stronger understanding of local government role’s in driving vibrant and safe night-time economies
- access to NTE data for your local council and one-on-one coaching sessions with a data analyst on how to read and use data to strengthen your NTE narrative and talk to your community
- a network of like-minded NTE champions across NSW.
This Accelerator has been developed by the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner (O24HEC), which is part of the NSW Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport (the Department). Several subject matter experts will also be involved in the delivery of the program.
- Dates for the bootcamp, masterclasses and follow-up coaching/Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions are listed in the Guidelines (PDF 4.22MB).
- The Accelerator commences with a bootcamp which will be held between 2pm and 8pm on 22 April 2026 and between 9.30am and 3.00pm on 23 April 2026.
- Masterclasses and follow-up coaching/AMA sessions will be held weekly on Mondays from 11am-12noon (on Tuesday 9 June 2026) between 4 May and 20 June 2026.
- The Accelerator concludes with a follow-up coaching and AMA session on 20 July 2026.
- Online drop-in sessions will be offered in August and November 2026, providing participants with the opportunity to share experiences and learn from one another.
The bootcamp will be held at a central Sydney location.
Yes. Refer to the Commitment requirements for council officers and Key dates and timelines headings in the Guidelines (PDF 4.22MB). It is expected the mandatory components of the full program will require a minimum commitment of 19 hours, with the total Accelerator being 25 hours.
Refer to the ‘Participation costs section in the Guidelines (PDF 4.22MB).
- Participants will be provided with the 1.5-day bootcamp, 6 online Masterclass sessions, and 6 follow-up coaching and AMA sessions.
- Participants will be provided with lunch and afternoon tea on day one of the bootcamp, and breakfast, morning tea, lunch on day 2 of the bootcamp.
- Any travel costs not captured in the Guidelines (PDF 4.22MB), including meals while travelling or taxis/rideshares, are the responsibility of the participants.
Eligibility, including accommodation and airfares
If the participant's council is located in a ‘Regional LGA’ (see Guidelines (PDF 4.22MB) Appendix for full list), the participant is entitled to one night's accommodation for the bootcamp. See specific eligibility criteria in the Guidelines (PDF 4.22MB). Hotel bookings for the purpose of attending the bootcamp will be organised by O24HEC’s Programs team in collaboration with the NSW Government’s travel provider.
If the participant's council is located in a ‘Regional LGA’ and their place of residence is located more than a 4-hour drive from Sydney, the participant is entitled to return flights to Sydney to attend the bootcamp. See specific eligibility criteria in the Guidelines (PDF 4.22MB).
Return airfares to Sydney for the purpose of attending the bootcamp will be organised by O24HEC’s Programs team in collaboration with the NSW Government’s travel provider.
Applying
The deadline for applications is Friday 27 March 2026, at 5:00pm.
Allow a few hours in total. Applicants must complete the Online Diagnostic Tool, for which we recommend you set aside a minimum of 2 hours. Refer to the Application process section in the Guidelines (PDF 4.22MB) for more information.
Using the online Diagnostic Tool to determine your council’s maturity before applying will ensure you are familiar with different aspects of the NTE and will prepare you for the Accelerator. It is also helpful for you and O24HEC to understand where your LGA is in terms of your own night-time economy journey, so that we can provided a tailored approach to the Accelerator.
Your application must be received through our secure online form. Use the apply now button on this webpage.
No. All information must be inputted in a single session. You may wish to review the questions (provided below) and gather your information in a Word document before starting.
- Details:
- Council
- Applicant 1 – First name
- Applicant 1 – Last name
- Applicant 1 – Role
- Applicant 1 – Email address
- Applicant 2 – First name
- Applicant 2 – Last name
- Applicant 2 – Role
- Applicant 2 – Email address
- Written endorsement from council Director(s) (or equivalent) – upload
- Outline of Council’s strategic commitment and interest in night-time economy (500 characters)
- Current maturity rating:
- Use the Diagnostic Tool to identify the current maturity level of your council (across the four domains of Governance, Place, Strategy and Data), using the Toolkit.
- Input Governance maturity rating
- Input Place maturity rating
- Input Strategy maturity rating
- Input Data maturity rating
- Reason for applying – please include a statement of what you would like to gain from participating in the Accelerator (500 characters)
- Terms and Conditions and executive (Director or equivalent) approval
- Privacy collection notice
A maximum of two people can participate from any one council. Each council should submit one application for either one or two applicants. The Diagnostic Tool only needs to be completed once, and this task can be shared between two applicants.
Written endorsement from a senior manager (i.e. Director or equivalent) should help to avoid different units within council applying unaware of one another. Senior/manager support is one of the Eligibility Criteria. This can be an email – one sentence with the names of one or both participants, confirmed by the senior manager.
Should each participant report to a different Director, please provide written confirmation from both executives. Please contact us at lgp@24houreconomy.nsw.gov.au should you have any queries.
Yes. The program is open to councils at any stage of their journey.
A minimum of 10 council places will be reserved for regional NSW councils.
Yes. O24HEC will keep a record of submitted applications. In the event applications from non-regional councils exceed the number of places available, those applicants will be placed on a waitlist until the application period closes.
If, in that time, the 10 regional NSW council places have not been taken up, the places will be offered to non-regional council officers on the waitlist, in the order in which their applications were submitted to O24HEC and deemed eligible by the Programs team. Similarly, if there are any dropouts, or if any emails of offer are not confirmed, these places will be offered to the next officer in line.
5pm AEDT, Friday 27 March 2026, unless all places are filled earlier.
No changes can be made to your application after the closing date unless we ask you for more information. If you need to make any other changes to your submitted application before the closing date, please contact us at lgp@24houreconomy.nsw.gov.au.
Application outcome and next steps
Places will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. You will be notified shortly after you submit your application form. If all the places are filled prior to 27 March, the applications will close early.
O24HEC will send you an email advising if you have been successful. Please ensure you reply to that email as soon as possible to confirm your place on the Accelerator.
No future Accelerators have been planned at this stage. To be notified of any future programs, subscribe to the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner's newsletter, The Neon Grid.
Help and support
Contact us via email: lgp@24houreconomy.nsw.gov.au.
Resources
Yes. There is a Toolkit, an online Diagnostic Tool, 5 Implementation Guides (relative to maturity level), 4 webinars for playback-on-demand and a template to help councils assess, grow and manage their night-time economies. See webpage.