CouncilFirst was established in 2012 as a dedicated division of OST, an Adelaide-based consulting organisation founded in 1992. With extensive experience in ERP and CRM implementations across the private and public sectors, OST recognised a critical gap in the technology available to local governments—systems that were often inflexible, outdated, and poorly aligned to council-specific operations.

CouncilFirst was created to change that.

From the outset, our focus has been on developing and delivering a modern, modular ERP platform tailored specifically to the needs of Australian local government. Built on Microsoft Dynamics 365 and deployed via Microsoft Azure, the CouncilFirst solution is designed to support councils in delivering efficient, compliant, and community-focused services—both now and in the future.

We were early adopters of SaaS-based delivery and cloud architecture, introducing scalable, secure solutions well before digital transformation became a priority for many in the sector. Just as importantly, we have continued to collaborate closely with councils to ensure our solution develops with sector-specific challenges, regulatory requirements, and the practical realities of day-to-day council operations.

Today, CouncilFirst is recognised as a leading ERP provider for local government in Australia. Our solution is trusted by councils of all sizes and geographies, and supported by a team that understands the unique pressures, responsibilities, and expectations placed on local government organisations.

We remain committed to delivering technology that supports better decision-making, improves service delivery, and enables councils to confidently meet their obligations.