By Eleanor Wilson
Two ambitious Cardinia women are hoping their participation in a state-funded program could help change the face of diversity in local government.
Now in its second year, the Women Leading Locally fellowship was established in collaboration with the State Government, Women for Elections and the Institute for Community Directors, with the aim to achieve gender parity within Victorian councils by 2025.
The 12-month program works with 65 women from the 32 Victorian councils with the lowest female representation, where they participate in campaigning, leadership and governance workshops to equip them with the skills to run for local government.
Cardinia participants Renee Bertolus and Alanna Pomeroy hope their involvement in the program will help improve diversity across governance structures.
“I’m a massive believer that diversity just makes the world better, you come out with better results – not just from a human perspective but actually from a productivity perspective,” Renee said.
“You see massive gains with the more diverse people you have in the room, because your thinking changes and you just come up with better ideas and you’ve got lived experience of things.
“I think that all of those things deliver a better result.”
Both women said they are not 100 per cent sure whether they want to run for the next local government term in 2024, but said the program will provide them with a pathway to become more confident in giving back to their communities in several capacities.
“The opportunity to meet different people and come along to events and hear from really inspiring people and see the amazing work that is being done, I just thought it was an amazing opportunity and I feel really privileged to be part of it,” Renee said.
“I’m learning a lot from just the women around me and their experiences which, its not often we get that opportunity to jump on a zoom call with 65 women and talk about our experiences in a really safe and supportive way.
“It’s exciting and hopefully more women continue to apply for these things.”
General Manager at the Institute of Community Directors Australia (ICDA) Adele Stowe-Lindner said the leadership experience and commitment the women bring to the program is “inspiring”.
“The Women Leading Locally program is one of four programs ICDA has established specifically to support women’s leadership in the community and local government sectors,” she said.
“The program delivers intensive training to 120 women over two years, in topics such as values-based leadership, communications, campaigning and governance in a local government context.”
When it comes to bridging the municipal gender gap, Victoria has the highest proportion of women councillors in Australia, with 44 per cent of women elected at the 2020 local government elections.
Cardinia Shire Council itself is close to gender parity, with five male councillors and four female councillors, including female mayor Tammy Radford.
“I suppose in Cardinia it’s looking at the strong women that have already forged that path, so you’re not necessarily forging the path, you’re just making sure you can continue to represent the community ongoing,” Alanna said.
But in other parts of the state, the gender balance in local government is not as centred.
In the City of Wodonga, just two of seven councillors are female, while Hume has only three females on its 11-person council.
Renee said the program’s objective to achieve change through structured pathways was important and exciting.
“By manufacturing these things, over time you stop having to manufacture them, because it just starts to happen and you create a snowball effect,” she said.
“I think it always feels a bit tokenistic at the start, but it won’t happen unless that work is put into it.
“When you focus on something and you actually give it the dedication and the focus, you see the change happen and I think this is one of those times.
