Women's Policy Working Group

Chair

Cr Rose Iser

Role of Working Group

The Working Group provides advice to the Board on actions that will support women’s participation in and with Local Governments as elected Councillors, employees and citizens and citizens and will support individual Local Governments and members in their work on women’s issues, consistent with the VLGA Strategic Plan. The focus is on time-specific issues and actions which are achievable, strategic, support VLGAs strategic plan, and the principles of the Victorian Local Government Womens Charter:  gender equity, diversity and active citizenship.

The Working Group will recommend to the Board on issues of relevance including:

• policy and practices which support diversity of women’s participation in Local Government for Board consideration
• how to achieve maximum ownership by VLGA members of the policies and practices

For general information on working groups please see our Working Groups page.

Members

1. Antonella Celi (Individual VLGA member)
2. Mandy Bathgate (Darebin City Council)
3. Cr Sarah Carter (Maribyrnong City Council)
4. Cr Ruth McGowan (VLGA Vice President)
5. Cr Lisa Price (Latrobe City Council)
6. Cr Coral Ross (Boroondara City Council)

The meeting is open to VLGA members and is frequently attended by members of the Working Groups Open Reference Group.

Current Work

Although the current work for 2009 onwards is in the process of being finalised, following is some background to the development of the Women's Policy Working Group.

At its meeting of 2 November 2006, the VLGA Board approved the creation of a Working Group to support the Board in developing a policy relating to women in local government. The context includes the Victorian Local Government Women's Charter, the Victorian Centenary of Federation Women's Petition (2001) and other material such as Moving On (2003), research about why women councillors retire from office. The internal context includes VLGA's role as Women's Participation in Local Government Coalition (WPILGC) Secretariat, creation of the Women's Policy position, carer-friendly work environment, and major signatory to the Women's Charter which has three principles:

1. Gender equity
2. Diversity
3. Active citizenship

For more information on the work undertaken by the VLGA on Women's Policy visit here.

Meeting Schedule

Open meetings are held approximately every 2 months at the VLGA. If you are interested but unable to attend, just ask to be placed on the Open Reference Group. You will receive minutes and have the opportunity to attend meetings of interest. For details contact Linda below.

Page last updated 3 March 2010

Women’s Policy Officer

Linda Bennett
T: +61 3 9349 7904
E: Send Email