The Australian Local Government sector has designated 2010 as the Year of Women in Local Government, as a means to celebrate and promote the advancement of women into senior management positions. The announcement follows a national forum held in September with representatives from Local, State and Federal Governments, Local Government Associations and peak professional bodies, which was convened by Local Government Managers Australia (LGMA).
Speaking at the conclusion of the forum, LGMA National President, Ray Pincombe, said that the Year of Women in Local Government is a powerful and proven method of raising awareness and educating the Local Government sector on the value and capacity of women as senior managers.
“The topic of women in Local Government, and in particular women in management positions, has been around for a long time,” Ray Pincombe said. “All levels of government are acutely aware of the barriers facing women in management positions, yet nationally, only a handful of councils are addressing this issue.
“Currently women in senior management roles represent only 20 per cent of the Local Government workforce, and only five per cent of chief executives or general managers are women. Unless we as a sector embrace gender diversity and adopt more transparent and flexible work practices in attracting and retaining our female employees, the Local Government sector will not have the depth of talent to survive.”
Ray Pincombe also said that the support for the Year of Women in Local Government represents an overwhelming show of solidarity from all levels of government and peak professional bodies.
“This is not about women in management, as business leaders or as representatives on boards as a cause,” he said. “It is about ensuring that business diversity accurately reflects community interests and, more importantly, that women are seen as a real solution to the skills shortage problems we face today.”
A working party comprising representatives from the Local, State and Federal Government sectors, Local Government Associations and peak professional bodies has been formed to define and develop the way forward for the Year of Women in Local Government.
For further information contact Helen Diggerson at LGMA on (03) 9682 9222.
