Sunday, February 16, 2025

Women lead the way with Victorian LG program

Sixty-five women have signed on to be part of the second intake of a female leadership program being led by the Victorian Government in a bid to boost female representation on councils.

Victoria set a national high mark for female local government representation at the 2020 council elections, with women making up 43.8% of successful candidates.

Minister for Local Government, Melissa Horne said the Women Leading Locally program is providing women across the state with the tools and connections to advance their leadership ambitions ahead of local government elections next year.

“We’re equipping fantastic women with the skills and resources they need to best put their case for election to their local council,” said Minister Horne.

“It is important that councils are representative of the communities they serve. Gender equality is an essential part of achieving this aim.”

She said participants were selected from across the state with a focus on regions where women are underrepresented in councils. The 60 participants from the first year of the program will graduate in August.

Round two participant, Kelly Ann Blake, from the Loddon Mallee region welcomed the push for increased participation by women in leadership roles in rural Victoria.

“I see this program as an important opportunity to give a voice to the underrepresented in local affairs. I will champion greater support for social inclusion, our local and state parklands, and for mental health assistance,” said Ms Blake.

As a biodiversity project officer for the Wadawurrung Aboriginal Corporation, Ms Blake said she is committed to leading by example in raising community awareness about native habitat and wildlife preservation as a means of bringing people together.

Through the Women Leading Locally program, she plans to assist women from underrepresented groups to effect community change where it is needed most.

Women Leading Locally is being delivered by the Institute of Community Directors Australia in partnership with Women for Election.

To find out more, visit localgovernment.vic.gov.au.

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