Why women?
Gender equality benefits us all.
Global studies show that women’s political leadership makes a difference, and women are leading the change. It advances the key pillars of our society, like health, education, and democracy. In Australia, we know women-led businesses are also more productive.
While women make up roughly half the population, and the workforce (50.2%), they represent only 38% of women on Victorian councils, with 14 councils having only one female councillor.
Representation matters. It benefits us all materially, and it paves the way for women who aspire to lead their communities in the future. But barriers – including the confidence gap, and the pay gap – remain, and they could get even bigger.
We have an ambitious goal – to achieve 50% representation. It is a goal that requires women (and men) to take action. In every community and at every level of government, women play crucial roles as leaders. Women know what it takes to make difficult decisions, because they are already doing this in every neighbourhood in Victoria.
This means that women have the skills, vision and motivation to be elected representatives. What they need is encouragement and support, to take on these formal roles of leadership on council.
