By Matthew Sims
The state government is encouraging Hume and Whittlesea women with a desire to serve their community to join a new program pushing for more women to become councillors.
Applications for the Women Leading Locally program will open on Thursday, May 12.
The program will help participants develop leadership skills, provide participants with ongoing mentoring and equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to run a successful local government campaign.
The program encourages applications from women in the 30 municipalities where women were most underrepresented at the 2020 local government elections, including Hume.
The state government is also recommending that women who are Aboriginal, live with a disability or identify as LGBTQIA+ apply.
To launch the program, there will be a series of online and in-person seminars highlighting the work of women leaders across Victoria.
Women Minister Gabrielle Williams said it is essential to have local governments throughout the state demonstrate gender equality and wider diversity.
“It is vital we increase the number of women in local government, particularly from underrepresented groups – so that our council representatives reflect the diversity of the community they serve,” she said.
Program participants will also learn about the Women Leading Locally fellowship, which is fully funded by the government and will support 120 women over the next two years to develop the connections and tools they need to campaign as candidates in the next council elections in 2024.
The state government has a target of having half of Victorian councillors being women by 2025.
The Gender Equality Advisory Committee is guiding the program, which was established in 2021 to advise the Government on how to deliver on this target.
Local Government Minister Shaun Leane said more women in local government will be an important step towards more improvements for Victorian communities.
“Having more women in local government makes councils more representative and able to make better decisions for their communities,” he said.
Details: localgovernment.vic.gov.au
