Network to promote women in council

VICTORIA’S Public Sector Gender Equality Commissioner Dr Niki Vincent will launch the Empowering Women 50/50 x 2025 Network in Geelong today (Thursday, February 24).

To be launched at the Geelong Library & Heritage Centre, the network is an initiative of Geelong’s Women in Local Democracy (WILD) group and follows the introduction of Victoria’s gender equality legislation in 2020.

It will focus on achieving the Victorian government’s target of gender equity at the next local council elections.

WILD has already recruited more than 100 members to the new network including Members of Parliament, councillors, chief executive officers, academics, community leaders, members and women active in a range of community organisations.

WILD believes that in addition to gender equality, councils should also reflect the make-up of their communities and is encouraging women from diverse groups across the Geelong region to join the network and stand for council.

The Empowering Women 50/50 x 2025 Network welcomes progressive women candidates, other women interested in supporting women standing for the 2024 election, and those members of the community who recognise equality as essential to local democracy and community wellbeing for all.

WILD convenor Jenny Wills said WILD had developed a three year Gender Parity Strategy, which will also be launched today and will be available to read.

This will ensure women candidates significantly improve their chances of election success by making an early and well planned start to their campaigns.

November 2020 marked 100 years since the election of Victoria’s first female councillor, Mary Rogers, to Richmond City Council.

Results from the 2020 local government elections came in the same week as the anniversary, showing Victoria elected 272 women – 43.8 per cent of councillors, the most in Australian history.

Today’s event is hosted by the City of Greater Geelong and will be held at the Geelong Library & Heritage Centre from 5-7pm.

Bookings are essential and and can be made via the Geelong Regional Library Corporation’s website.

Double vaccination status is required for attendees.

Registrations and light refreshments will be served from 5pm with the program beginning at 5.30pm.

For more information about the Empowering Women 50/50 x 2025 Network or to register, email [email protected].