South Australia’s City of Salisbury has seen an 11 per cent increase in the number of women in leadership positions since 2003 as a result of its Project Connect. Project Connect aims to raise the level of awareness, acceptance and visibility of women by providing employees with the knowledge and resources to ‘connect’ with their organisation. This enables staff to develop their careers, and realise their potential in Local Government.
In 2003, driven by the National Framework for Women in Local Government, a small working party of Salisbury’s senior level women across the Departments of Community Services and Strategic Planning were inspired to develop a strategic framework for its female staff. The working party analysed its own workforce data and noted a severe disparity between the women in all professional areas, and most notably in senior positions.
Council’s Director Community Services and working party member, Pru Blackwell, said there was only one female in a team of seven Directors.
“From 2003, the City of Salisbury Corporate Plan identified that action was required to increase the percentage of women in leading positions,” she said. “Together with our Human Resources Manager, we implemented a series of programs, which led to four per cent increase in the percentage of women in leadership positions by 2004/2005.”
One of the specific innovations in Project Connect has been a development program for women, Growing Professionally. The seven session program allows women to self assess their situation and begin a path of confident self expression, being their own PR company and then taking the journey to make it all happen for them.
Other programs have included:
- a series of lunch time inspirational speakers focusing on personal and professional goals and ambition for men and women
- Worklife Choices – a self diagnostic tool for assisting goal setting
- leadership training preceded by 360° feedback by peers and managers
- invitations to attend women’s day events, IPAA – Women’s sessions, breakfasts and so on
- Bizarre Bras – a breast cancer awareness program for community and employees.
Pru Blackwell said each of these programs have included opportunities for participation at all levels of staff, including managers, and representation from all departments. As a result, in 2006, the City of Salisbury Council had 39 per cent of its senior positions held by women. This is an increase from 28 per cent in 2003.
“This result can clearly be aligned with the impacts of Project Connect and the importance of all staff to confidently strive for satisfactory personal and professional goals,” Pru Blackwell said.
Council is now in the process of developing ‘Salisbury Success’ – a new business excellence framework. The framework will be heavily dependent on the evolution of an organisational development strategy, which will position its leaders for significant change.
For further information contact Pru Blackwell on (08) 8406 8312.
