The Southgate Institute for Health, Society and Equity, in partnership with SA Health and the SA Local Government Association (LGA) held a research forum on 25th July 2016 on the role of local governments in SA in contributing to health, well-being and health equity. Participants were drawn from multiple local councils, SA Health, the SA LGA and Flinders University. During the forum, research findings were disseminated and debated around the following themes: (a) awareness and uptake of ideas about the social determinants of health and health equity by local government staff and elected members; and (b) regional public health planning by local government in South Australia – processes used, approaches taken, progress thus far, lessons learnt and what is required to support implementation. The forum featured a keynote presentation by Dr Felicity-ann Lewis, the former Mayor of Marion and past president of the Australian Local Government Association. It also included presentations by Southgate researchers Prof Fran Baum, Dr Angela Lawless, Dr Helen van Eyk, Dr Toni Delany and Dr Anna Lane as well as panel and small group discussions with key stakeholders. for further information please contact anna.lane@flinders.edu.au.