Women Leading Locally - supporting women to develop their leadership potential

The Victorian Government is committed to achieving 50 per cent women councillors and mayors in local government.

Women Leading Locally was one of the key initiatives to support this effort.

The program provided participants with resources and skills to campaign in the 2024 local government elections.

Women Leading Locally was delivered by the Institute of Community Directors Australia (ICDA) in partnership with Women for Election.

125 women from across Victoria participated in the program, with a focus on local government areas with the lowest female representation on council.

Participants were also selected from historically underrepresented groups including young women, women who are Aboriginal, live with a disability, are from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds or identify as LGBTQI+.

119 women graduated from the program. Participants from the first round graduated in August 2023, with second round participants graduating in August 2024.

As well as developing leadership skills, Women Leading Locally also equipped participants with connections, mentoring, and motivation to keep up the pace all the way to the 2024 local government elections.

Program graduates also received a Certificate in Community Leadership and Governance (Local Government).

Women Leading Locally concluded in October 2024. Results from the program’s evaluation framework indicate that:

  • 97% of participants found the program to be a ‘credible source of information’
  • 92% agreed or strongly agreed that ‘the program is motivational’
  • 85% reported they were likely or very likely to connect with other graduates
  • 72% reported that their ‘willingness to take up a leadership role’ had increased.

Findings also indicate that this is a group of women who are and wish to continue to be committed leaders of their local communities, with the program motivating them to do so.

18 Women Leading Locally graduates have been elected councillors in 15 metropolitan, regional and rural councils across Victoria in the 2024 – 2028 local government term.

In the News:

Program launched: Leading Women to Forge Their Way into Local Government - 8 March 2022

Cohort one applications open: Supporting Women to Lead Their Local Communities - 29 April 2022

Cohort one kicks off: Launching The Next Generation of Women Leaders - 20 August 2022

Cohort two kicks off: Helping Women Serve and Shape Their Local Communities - 4 July 2023

Cohort one graduates: Empowering Future Women Councillors and Mayors - 31 August 2023

NAIDOC Week 2024 - Marie Barbance's Story

National Reconciliation Week 2024 - Kelly Ann Blake's Story

Cohort two graduates: Cohort Two Graduation – 10 August 2025

International Women’s Day 2025

Campaign mode!

To find out more about the program please visit the ICDA website here.

You can also contact Local Government Victoria at lgv@ecodev.vic.gov.au.