Calling all women for Council roles

Calling all women interested in standing as candidates in the local government elections.

The Australian Local Government Womens Association, NSW branch (ALGWA NSW) wants to talk to you.

ALGWA NSW will conduct a free forum on the Central Coast on June 22 to encourage women to stand for the September local government elections.

ALGWA NSW says its 2021 campaign achieved an 8.5 per cent increase in the proportion of women elected to local government, the biggest increase from one election to the next on record.

A total of 69 councils elected more women than in previous terms.

Women now make up 39.5 per cent of all councillors in NSW.

The newly formed Central Coast Council’s first 15 councillors, elected in 2017, included six women and nine men.

The residents of the Central Coast never got to vote in the 2021 local government elections as our council remained under administration after our councillors were suspended in October 2020 and later sacked.

But we will be voting this year.

The association has a proud history of conducting forums to encourage women to stand for local government elections, and supporting female staff members into leadership roles.

The ALGWA NSW executive members share their knowledge and experience to support women attendees.

Hear:

– what it’s like to be a woman on council;

– how to run a successful campaign;

– ask questions about the role

– develop an understanding of what’s required

– hear about other women’s journeys and

– discuss the challenges women might face on council… hearing it all directly from those who are living it.

ALGWA has received $80,000 to help get women elected.

President, ALGWA NSW Branch, Cr Penny Pedersen said:

“ALGWA’s forums introduce women, many of them already leaders in our community organisations, to elected women councillors, who can pass on the detail of their election journey and the importance of their role in local government.

“Local Government elections are on September 14, and many women in our communities are already making decisions on whether they will step up and campaign to be elected to council.

“ALGWA have proven in the past that forums encouraging women to nominate for local government, that are facilitated by sitting women councillors with lived experience in the sector; in the council chamber and out there in the community, really ‘seal the deal’,” she said.

Councils can apply through the ALGWA NSW President to host a forum and the Central Coast event is on June 22, ALGWA said.

Details were announced through Council: the event will be held at The Hub Erina Centre from 1pm-4pm. It’s near the Library at Erina Fair.

The Office of Local Government and Women NSW jointly committed $160,000 in funding for workshops targeted at under-represented groups of women.

Women for Election received the second $80,000 grant and is running workshops but none are scheduled for the Coast.

Council also has an information session for all genders scheduled for Tuesday, July 16 at Community Trust Hall, 27 Karalta Rd, Erina from 5.30pm to 8pm.