Women in one Victorian Municipality have taken the Victorian Government's commitment to elect 50 percent of female mayors and councillors to local government by 2025, seriously.
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A group of women in the Northern Grampians Shire Council want a more significant say in matters that affect them and their community.
They believe a change in culture, policy, and attitude is needed to support gender equality in their council, and five women have already committed to nominating in October, five months out from the election.
Led by Chairperson Prue McAllister, Women for Council - NGSC met in St Arnaud in May to better understand the challenges women in politics face and decide on the best way forward to make change and balance gender equality in their council.
The group is focussed on attracting women to council and to provide those who are elected with a support base.
NGSC has a history of only two female councillors on a council of seven and the group will work towards closing that gap.
Whether mandating an equal number of male and female councillors should be considered was discussed.
Despite having female councilors nominated, NGSC has not had a female mayor for 12 years.
A majority vote by NGSC has blocked having a deputy mayor role for almost as long, denying councilors, including females, added leadership opportunities.
The gender quota database shows that over 80 countries legislating gender quotas have increased women's representation in these roles worldwide.
The NGSC will have one less ward in the October elections due to recent council restructuring and will elect one less councillor.
"It is easy to complain about our councils, but if people do not nominate when we go to the polls, we can't complain. More people must nominate to get the best representation," Ms McAllister said.
"I think we need more women on council because they have a different perspective on matters affecting communities. So more people must stand," she said.
Guest speaker Melissa Morris, Senior Regional Consultant for Grampians Women's Health, explained how her role addressed issues such as gender equality, violence against women, and the role local government can play in these matters.
"Change in any organisation needs to come from the leadership team,," she said.
It was agreed policies only change the culture of any organization if there is a mindset for change, especially in what has historically been a male-dominated hierarchy.
Research shows that diverse groups make better decisions; without that, there is a democratic deficit, it states.
At the end of the 2020 October elections, Victoria led Australia in the proportion of female councillors elected, with 43.8 percent. Women for Council-NGSC is determined to increase that percentage in 2025.
NGSC Mayor Rob Haswell was invited to the meeting but had a prior commitment; he is expected to address the next meeting.
