Let’s Chat Ballarat is the City of Ballarat’s annual community expo, bringing together Councillors, Council staff, local services and community groups under one roof.

The Expo provides an opportunity to meet the people behind Council projects and services, ask questions, share ideas and learn more about the initiatives shaping our city.

The event also marks the beginning of the Let's Chat Councillor Roadshows, which continue the conversation in each ward across Ballarat throughout the year.

The event is free and open to all members of the community.

For full event details, including dates, program information and participating services, visit the official event page here.

Starting a Business? Let's Chat!

Book a session with a member of our Business Concierge team for tailored permit advice, plus dedicated support for those in the creative industries.

Participants who complete an eligible survey or enter the Children’s Colouring Competition will be entered into the relevant prize draws.

Children’s Colouring Competition

  • Ballarat Wildlife Park Pass

  • Sovereign Hill Annual Pass

Door Prizes

  • 2 x $150 Made of: Ballarat Shop hamper

  • 2 x BALC 4-month Gold Memberships

Expo Experience Survey

  • Ballarat Wildlife Park Pass

  • Western Bulldogs Merchandise Pack

Terms and Conditions for Prizes

Let’s Chat Ballarat 2026 Colouring Competition – Terms and Conditions

1. The Let’s Chat Ballarat 2026 Colouring Competition is conducted by the City of Ballarat (ABN: 37 601 599 422).

2. Entry into the competition is deemed acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.

Promotion Period:
3. The competition opens on Tuesday 3 March 2026 at 9:00am and closes at 5:00pm (AEST) on Sunday 29 March 2026. Entries received after this time will not be considered.

Eligibility

4. Entry is open to children residing in Australia.

5. Entrants must have parent or guardian consent and contact details to enter.

6. Entries will be accepted in the following age categories:

  • 3–7 years
  • 8–12 years

Entrants must nominate their age at the time of entry. Entries will be judged within their respective age category.

7. Children of City of Ballarat employees, Ballarat City Councillors and their immediate family members are welcome to enter the competition but are not eligible to win a prize. Immediate family includes a spouse or partner, children, siblings and parents.

How to Enter

8. To enter, participants must:

  • Complete the official Let’s Chat Ballarat colouring sheet; and
  • Submit their entry via one of the approved submission methods listed on the Let’s Chat Ballarat webpage before the closing date.

9. Only one entry per child will be accepted.

10. Entries that are offensive, inappropriate, incomplete or not submitted on the official colouring sheet will not be considered.

Judging

11. Entries will be judged by a panel appointed by the City of Ballarat.

12. Entries will be assessed within their nominated age category.

13. Judging will take into consideration creativity, effort, and age-appropriate skill level. The panel will assess entries in alignment with the age of the child, meaning younger children’s entries will be judged relative to typical developmental expectations for their age.

14. The judges’ decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

Prizes and Notification

15. One winner will be selected from each age category.

  • The winner of the 3–7 years category will receive a Ballarat Wildlife Park Annual Pass (valued at $210).
  • The winner of the 8–12 years category will receive a Sovereign Hill Annual Pass (valued at $291).

16. Winners will be notified by phone or email within one week of the competition closing.

17. Winners’ first names and age categories will be published by City of Ballarat.

18. In the instance that a winner is under 18 years of age, the prize will be awarded to their parent or guardian. 1.

19. Prizes are non-transferable and not redeemable for cash.

Privacy

20. Personal information is collected by the City of Ballarat for the purpose of administering the competition and contacting winners.

21. Information will be handled in accordance with the City of Ballarat Privacy Policy available at www.ballarat.vic.gov.au.

22. By entering the competition, participants consent to the publication of the winner’s first name and age category.

Let’s Chat Ballarat 2026 MySay Subscriber Prize – Terms and Conditions

1. The Let’s Chat Ballarat 2026 MySay Subscriber Prize is conducted by the City of Ballarat (ABN: 37 601 599 422). 2. Entry into the promotion is deemed acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.

Promotion Period

3. The promotion opens on Sunday 1 March 2026 and closes at 11:59pm (AEST) on Tuesday 31 March 2026. Entries received after this time will not be considered.

Eligibility

4. Entry is open to residents of Australia.

5. To be eligible, individuals must:

  • Be a new subscriber to MySay Ballarat during the promotion period; or
  • Be an existing MySay Ballarat subscriber at any time during the promotion period.

6. City of Ballarat employees, Ballarat City Councillors and their immediate family members are not eligible to win this promotion. Immediate family includes a spouse or partner, children, siblings and parents.

How to Enter
7. Entry is automatic upon subscribing to MySay Ballarat and the MySay newsletter during the promotion period.

8. Existing MySay Ballarat subscribers that are subscribed the the MySay newsletter will automatically be included in the prize draw.

9. Only one entry per person will be included in the draw. 10. Entries that are incomplete or deemed inappropriate by the City of Ballarat will not be considered.

Draw and Prize

11. One winner will be selected at random by the City of Ballarat following the close of the promotion period.

12. The winner will receive one $100 Her Majesty’s Theatre voucher.

13. The winner will be notified by phone or email within one week of the promotion closing.

14. If the winner does not respond within 14 days of notification, the prize may be forfeited and a new winner drawn.

15. The prize is non-transferable and not redeemable for cash.

16. The City of Ballarat’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Privacy

17. Personal information is collected by the City of Ballarat for the purpose of administering the promotion and contacting the winner.

18. Information will be handled in accordance with the City of Ballarat Privacy Policy available at www.ballarat.vic.gov.au.

19. By entering the promotion, participants consent to the City of Ballarat publishing the winner’s first name, the first initial of their surname and suburb.

Let’s Chat Ballarat 2026 Expo Door Prize Draw – Terms and Conditions

1. The Let’s Chat Ballarat 2026 Expo Door Prize Draw is conducted by the City of Ballarat (ABN: 37 601 599 422).

2. Entry into the promotion is deemed acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.

Promotion Period

3. The Day 1 Door Prize Draw opens on Thursday 26 March 2026 at 4:00pm and closes at 8:00pm (AEST).

4. The Day 2 Door Prize Draw opens on Friday 27 March 2026 at 9:00am and closes at 1:00pm (AEST).

5. Entries received outside of these times will not be considered.

Eligibility

6. Entry is open to residents of Australia who attend Let’s Chat Ballarat 2026.

7. City of Ballarat employees, Ballarat City Councillors and their immediate family members are not eligible to win. Immediate family includes a spouse or partner, children, siblings and parents.

8. Entrants under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian consent to enter.

How to Enter

9. To enter, attendees must scan the official event QR code during the applicable event day or provide their details to a City of Ballarat staff member at the entrance of the event.

10. Only one entry per person per event day will be accepted.

Draw and Prizes

11. Two winners will be drawn at random on each event day from eligible entries received that day.

12. Prizes include:

  • One Made of Ballarat Shop Hamper (valued at $150) per day; and
  • One 3-month BALC Gold Membership per day.

13.Winners will be drawn shortly after the close of entries on each respective day.

14. Winners will be notified by phone or email within one week of the draw.

15. If a winner does not respond within 14 days of notification, the prize may be forfeited and a new winner may be drawn.

16. Prizes are non-transferable and not redeemable for cash.

17. The City of Ballarat’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Privacy

18. Personal information is collected by the City of Ballarat for the purpose of administering the prize draw and contacting winners.

19. Information will be handled in accordance with the City of Ballarat Privacy Policy available at www.ballarat.vic.gov.au.

20. By entering the promotion, participants consent to the City of Ballarat publishing the winner’s first name, the first initial of their surname and suburb.

Let’s Chat Ballarat 2026 Expo Experience Survey Prize - Terms and Conditions

1. The Let’s Chat Ballarat 2026 Expo Experience Survey Prize is conducted by the City of Ballarat (ABN: 37 601 599 422).

2. Entry into the promotion is deemed acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.

Promotion Period

3. The promotion opens on Thursday 26 March 2026 at 4:00pm and closes on Sunday 29 March 2026 at 5:00pm (AEST).

4. Entries received outside of this period will not be considered.

Eligibility

5. Entry is open to residents of Australia who attend Let’s Chat Ballarat 2026.

6. To be eligible, entrants must have attended the Expo in person during the event dates.

7. The City of Ballarat may verify attendance at Let’s Chat Ballarat 2026. If an entrant is found not to meet the eligibility requirements, the entry may be declared invalid and a new winner drawn.

8. City of Ballarat employees, Ballarat City Councillors and their immediate family members are not eligible to win. Immediate family includes a spouse or partner, children, siblings and parents.

9. Entrants under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian consent to enter.

How to Enter

10. To enter, participants must complete the official Expo Experience Survey during the promotion period and provide valid contact details.

11. Only one entry per person will be accepted.

12. Entries that are incomplete, offensive or deemed inappropriate by the City of Ballarat will not be considered.

Draw and Prizes

13. Two winners will be selected at random following the close of the promotion period.

14. Prizes include:

  • One Ballarat Wildlife Park Annual Pass; and
  • One Western Bulldogs merchandise pack.

15. Winners will be notified by phone or email within one week of the promotion closing.

16. If a winner does not respond within 14 days of notification, the prize may be forfeited and a new winner drawn.

17. Prizes are non-transferable and not redeemable for cash.

18. The City of Ballarat’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Privacy

19. Personal information is collected by the City of Ballarat for the purpose of administering the promotion and contacting winners.

20. Information will be handled in accordance with the City of Ballarat Privacy Policy available at www.ballarat.vic.gov.au.

21. By entering the promotion, participants consent to the City of Ballarat publishing the winner’s first name, the first initial of their surname and suburb.