Women in Local Government National Forum
Media Releases
National push for women into senior management positions, 9 September 2008
Introduction
In response to ALGWA findings of the review of the National Framework for Women in Local Government – The Way Forward, the LGMA board at its February meeting considered the recommendations of its women in local government working party and formally adopted a national strategy to advance women in management positions in local government. A key strategy platform is the establishment and promotion of a Year of Women in Local Government Management. To ensure this initiative is relevant to the sector, a national forum of representatives from local, state and federal government departments, local government associations and professional peak bodies will be held to:
- Understand the issues and challenges of increasing the participation of women in local government management;
- Understand the possibilities and benefits of increasing the participation of women in local government management; and
- Collaboratively propose and define the Year of Women in Local Government Management
About the forum
The forum was held on 2-3 September 2008 at the Rydges Lakeside, Canberra, and was officially opened by Hon Tanya Plibersek, Minister for the Status of Women. Representatives from local, state and commonwealth government departments, local government associations and peak professional bodies participated in the two-day event. Day one of the forum was dedicated to keynote presentations and presentations of current initiatives implemented within and around the local government sector. Day two comprised a case study presentation by Engineers Australia on their highly successful 2007 Year of Women in Engineering Program and presentation by Catherne Fox, leading Australian Financial Review journalist and co-author of “The F Word – How we learnt to sear by feminism. To down load the forum program, and/or any of the presentations, follow the links below:
Key note addresses
Hon Tanya Plibersek MP– Minister for the Status of Women – Welcome speech
Senator Judith Troeth- Inquiry into women’s representation on regional and rural bodies of influence
Trish Crews – Community Relations Manager, NRL – Leading a professional team while working part-time
Fiona Krautil– Head of Advancement for Diversity and Women, ANZ
Catherine Fox, AFR Journalist and author – Issues and challenges confronting women in management ; why progress has stalled.
Case Study
Engineers Australia, 2007 Year of Women in Engineering
Presentations of Initiations
Kaele Way, National President, ALGWA
Julie Kerr, Executive Director LGMA SA / Peta Irvine, Chief Executive Officer, LGMA QLD
Cr. Patrica Creevey, Mayor of Mandurah, Chair, Advisory committee on women in local government, Department of Local Government and Regional Development (WA) Part II
Dyan Currie, President, Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) Queensland
Jenny Merkus, National President, Local Government Community Services Association of Australia; Director Social Development, Moreland City Council
Margaret Nicholls, Director, Economic Development Australia, Queanbeyan City Council
Karen Paterson, Manager Policy and Research, NSW Department of Local Government
Jane Gascoigne, Director Local Government Grants and Regional Communitites, Office for State/Local Government Relations (SA)
Sally Moyle, Branch Manager, The Office for Women
Five key issues
The presentations were followed by a work shop of five key issues identified during the forum and how they might apply to a Year of Women in Local Government in 2010. The themes are as follows:
- Removing structural barriers to the advancement of women into senior management positions
- Improving the image of local government as an employer of choice for women
- Preparing women to lead and succeed
- Affirming women’s rights to be “at the table”
- Implementing effective evaluation methods for measuring meaningful progress.
Outcomes
That LGMA facilitate a Year of Women in Local Government in 2010.
That a working party is formed of representatives from local, state and commonwealth government departments, local government associations, unions and peak industry bodies to define and direct the Year of Women in Local Government.
To download a complete list of the forum outcomes together with a list representatives forming the working party, follow the link: Outcomes of the WiLG forum/working party
For more information contact LGMA on +61 3 9682 9222.
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