Women Leading Locally - encouraging women to step forward and develop their leadership potential
The Victorian Government is committed to achieving 50 per cent women councillors and mayors in local government by 2025.
And Women Leading Locally is one of the key initiatives to support this effort.
The program provides diverse participants with resources and inspiration to campaign in the 2024 local government elections.
Women Leading Locally is being delivered by the Institute of Community Directors Australia (ICDA) in partnership with Women for Election.
125 places will be offered to women living in the council areas with the highest need to encourage women to stand for local office.
Young women, women who are Aboriginal, live with a disability, are from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds or identify as LGBTQI+ are especially encouraged. Passion for the local community is key.
Sixty women were enrolled in the 2022 program, which commenced in August. Applications to the 2023 program closed on 14 April and a further sixty-five places have now been offered. The 2023 program will commence in June.
As well as developing leadership skills, Women Leading Locally also provides ongoing connections, mentoring, and motivation for participants to keep up the pace all the way to the 2024 elections.
Participants are also eligible to receive a Certificate in Community Leadership and Governance (Local Government).
Find out more from ICDA and apply here.
You can also contact Local Government Victoria at wilgvic@ecodev.vic.gov.au.