Last weekend marked a significant milestone for women from East Gippsland as they graduated from the Women Leading Locally fellowship at a ceremony held in North Melbourne.
The fellowship, an initiative by the Victorian Government, aims to foster female leadership in local government with the goal of achieving 50 per cent representation of women as councillors and mayors by 2025.
“Graduating from the Women Leading Locally Fellowship has been an incredible journey, and I’m eager to apply what I’ve learned. I’m running for the East Gippsland Shire Council this October because I’m passionate about making a difference in our community. With my expanded skills in community leadership and Governance, I’m committed to ensuring that our local government
truly reflects the needs and aspirations of our residents,” Paynesville’s Jodie Ashworth said.
Samantha Reynolds of Orbost also graduated on Saturday and has found the experience beneficial in connecting likeminded women together who are all doing amazing things for the communities in which they live and while her intent is not to stand for public office this October in the local government elections, she is utilising the fellowship to encourage and support those who are throwing their hat in the ring as well as using the skills gained to further enhance her capacity to lead locally in the Orbost area.
The Women Leading Locally program, delivered by the Institute of Community Directors Australia (ICDA) in collaboration with Women for Election, equips participants with the skills and resources necessary to campaign in the 2024 local government elections.
This initiative specifically targets local government areas with low female representation and encourages participation from historically underrepresented groups, including young women, Aboriginal women, women with disabilities, those from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and LGBTQI+ individuals.
A total of 135 women from across Victoria have participated in the program.
The first round of graduates completed their fellowship in August 2023, while the second cohort of 65 participants graduated last weekend.
The fellowship offers a unique blend of face-to-face peer support events and online workshops covering essential topics such as campaigning, leadership, and governance.
Specialised content and mentoring are provided by Women for Election, a non-partisan organisation dedicated to inspiring and equipping women to run for public office.
The program’s design and delivery benefit from the input of a diverse reference group of women who understand the barriers faced by aspiring female leaders.
Graduates of the fellowship are awarded the “Women Leading Locally – Community Leader Fellowship,” a new designation accredited by the ICDA.
Those who complete the eight compulsory fellowship units also receive an ICDA “Certificate in Community Leadership and Governance (Local Government).”
By fostering a supportive alumni network, the fellowship aims to sustain the momentum of its participants through to the 2024 elections and beyond.
Women Leading Locally not only develops leadership skills but also provides valuable connections, mentoring, and motivation, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared to serve as successful local representatives for their communities.
