One of three current female Gunnedah councillors, Colleen Fuller has emphasised the importance of women taking a stand in time for International Women's Day, this Sunday, March 9.

Cr Fuller, who has been a councillor for 16 years, encouraged young mothers in particular to consider running.

"They bring a different dimension into council, particularly on family-orientated matters and I think that's really important," she said.

"[Making] sure that our community is providing the proper facilities out there, that's a really big role of a young female councillor that a mum can play and she sees things that we don't see as a young person."

Read also:

Cr Fuller is also country vice-president of the Australian Local Government Women's Association (ALGWA).

The association held a forum for women wanting to become a councillor in Gunnedah on Saturday, with women visiting from Quirindi, Narrabri, Boggabri, Narrabri and Wee Waa.

"I had two people from Gunnedah that indicated they were interested, I'd say they were about 35-40 years of age," she said.

Cr Fuller said anyone wanting to run for local government, both women and men, needed to start campaigning now so they were well prepared for the September elections.

"You should be trying to get to as many organisations and make sure you've got your face out there because people need to know who you are and what you're going to stand for," Cr Fuller said.

"If you're on committees, make sure you work with your committees to get them to help you and with your campaign as well.

"Sit on a council meeting; if you're going to run, you need to sit in. You cannot walk into a council meeting and not have been there, you need to know that all before you go there."

She noted that becoming a councillor wasn't for everybody, as it was very time consuming.

"When I went to council I had no idea I was going to be there nearly every Wednesday, I had no idea that I would be doing as many committees that I do now," she said.

But she said she was happy to offer help to anyone who may need it by calling her on 0429 420 290.