Empowering Women in Local Governance: The Australian Experience

Women make up approximately half of Australia’s population, yet their voices in local governance have historically been underrepresented. For decades, women faced significant barriers to participation in local council decisions that directly impact their communities. This changed when a group of pioneering women gathered in Canberra in 1951 to establish an organization dedicated to supporting women in local government. That organization, the Australian Local Government Women’s Association, has been transforming the landscape of civic leadership in Australia ever since.

Supporting women in leadership 🔗

The Australian Local Government Women’s Association was created in October 1951 during the Jubilee Year of the Commonwealth of Australia. The meeting was chaired by Dame Enid Lyons and held in the Canberra Hotel suite of Councillor Violet Lambert of Victoria. At that time, women represented just one percent of all councillors across Australia. The founders established ALGWA as a non-party political association to support women’s participation in local government, both as councillors and officers.

ALGWA operates with a clear mission: to promote and support women in local government through advice, advocacy, connecting, and mentoring. The organization functions as a national body with branches in every state and territory, all run entirely by volunteers. The association brings together current and former councillors, council officers, and anyone interested in supporting women’s participation in local government.

The organization’s core objectives include assisting women in understanding local government functions, encouraging women to participate in and make careers from local government, protecting the rights of women in local government, and acting in an advisory capacity to women candidates for local government elections. Through these efforts, ALGWA aims to achieve gender equality in Australian local government.

The national framework for women in local government 🔗

Various states have developed frameworks and charters to enhance women’s representation and create safer, more inclusive council environments. In New South Wales, for example, leaders from the Local Government Association, the Shires Association, ALGWA NSW, and Local Government Managers Australia signed a charter in 2004 that enshrines principles for equal rights and opportunities for women in local governance.

Victoria has taken particularly significant steps with the implementation of the Gender Equality Act 2020 and Local Government Act 2020, which position gender equality, diversity, and inclusion as key priorities for councils and their staff. These Acts introduce several measures including requirements for councils to prepare workforce plans measuring gender equality, access to paid parental leave for councillors, reimbursement for care expenses, and action on sexual harassment and councillor misconduct.

The Victorian Government’s Gender Equality Strategy, Our Equal State, sets out a statewide framework for sustained action on gender equality, including a target of 50 percent women councillors and mayors in local government. To support this goal, the government funded the Women Leading Locally program from 2022 to 2024, which provided 125 women from across Victoria with resources and skills to campaign in the 2024 local government elections.

Creating safe and supportive environments 🔗

ALGWA recognizes that many women in local government face challenging experiences simply because of their gender. Research partnerships with universities have been established to examine how women are treated in the local government sector and identify practical changes to improve safety and inclusion. The organization acknowledges that treatment often worsens when gender intersects with cultural, economic, racial, and ability differences.

The Victorian Auditor-General’s 2020 Sexual Harassment in Local Government Audit informed further work on addressing these issues within councils. These efforts reflect a broader commitment to ensuring that council workplaces support all women who serve as elected officials or employees.

Pioneering gender equity through mentorship and advocacy 🔗

One of ALGWA’s most successful initiatives is its mentoring program, which connects experienced councillors with newly elected women. The Victorian branch’s program has become the largest formal mentoring program for elected councillors in Australia. The program recognizes that mentoring in a political context differs significantly from business mentoring, addressing unique challenges such as working as an independent with party representatives, navigating legislative frameworks, and managing ambitious colleagues.

ALGWA’s mentoring approach is innovative because it provides a support network through minimal funding while utilizing the volunteer effort and talent of current and former councillors. Participants meet regularly in person and by phone, developing relationships built on trust and respect outside their local networks. Many mentoring relationships continue well beyond the formal program period.

The organization also provides advocacy at the national level, representing women’s interests and issues in local government. Through its national board and state branches, ALGWA offers networking opportunities, hosts biennial conferences in different areas of Australia, and creates platforms for women to connect, learn, and strengthen their leadership skills.

Building networks and community support 🔗

ALGWA emphasizes peer support and shared experiences. As the organization states, women supporting other women as peers creates a powerful collective voice. Members share lived experiences and understand the unique challenges of working in local government. This peer-to-peer model ensures that women have access to guidance from those who have navigated similar situations.

The association also promotes professional development through its Leadership for Aspiring Women Program and supports initiatives like bursary awards for women studying to further their careers in local government. These programs help women at various stages of their careers, from those considering running for council to experienced councillors seeking to expand their impact.

Success stories and future goals 🔗

The impact of ALGWA’s work is evident in the numbers. When the organization was founded in 1951, only 54 women had been elected to local councils across Australia. By 1974, this number had grown to 877 women, with 460 serving as sitting members. Today, women account for approximately 40 percent of councillors nationally, with some states performing better than others.

Victoria leads the country in female representation, with 44.8 percent of councillors being women following the October 2024 elections. Sixteen councils now have more than 50 percent of councillors who are women. Tasmania follows with 42.5 percent, Queensland with 42.2 percent, New South Wales with 40.5 percent, South Australia with 40 percent, Western Australia with 39.6 percent, and the Northern Territory with 33 percent.

Women leading change 🔗

Individual success stories demonstrate the value of ALGWA’s support. The organization has helped countless women navigate the challenges of local government and build successful council careers. Through its mentoring programs, women have gained the confidence and skills needed to lead effectively in their communities. Many participants describe the mentoring experience as essential to understanding the complex language and culture of council work.

Recognition of women’s contributions has also grown. Victoria recently established the Mary Rogers Awards to acknowledge significant contributions and achievements of women councillors in local government, named after Victoria’s first woman councillor elected in 1920. These awards raise the profile of women in the sector and highlight the importance of gender equality in decision-making.

Challenges that remain 🔗

Despite progress, significant challenges persist. Women continue to be underrepresented in many councils, with only 37 percent representation in aggregate across rural Victorian councils. Seven councils in Victoria had only one woman elected in the most recent elections. Research shows that women face distinct work and family demands alongside council responsibilities, often sacrificing full-time employment to accommodate parenting, household responsibilities, and council activities.

The pathway from local government to state and federal positions also remains difficult for women. If men have larger representation at younger ages and build political experience earlier, achieving gender parity through a pipeline from local government becomes increasingly challenging.

Looking ahead 🔗

ALGWA continues working toward its vision of achieving gender equality in Australian local government. The organization seeks to expand its influence by strengthening state branches, developing new mentoring initiatives, and advocating for policies that support women’s participation. The association encourages more women to nominate for councils, helps them win elections, and supports them in building long and successful council careers.

Future goals include reaching the 50 percent representation target set by various state governments, improving representation in rural areas, and ensuring that councils truly reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. ALGWA also aims to address intersectional challenges faced by women from Indigenous backgrounds, women with disabilities, women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and LGBTQI+ women.

The organization recognizes that diversity in decision-making bodies leads to better decisions. As the level of government closest to communities, councils must reflect all the people they serve. Through continued advocacy, mentorship, and support, ALGWA works to ensure that women have equal opportunities to participate in local governance and shape the decisions that affect their communities.

What do you think? How can communities better support women who want to participate in local government? What additional barriers need to be addressed to achieve true gender equity in civic leadership?

References

1. https://algwa.net.au/
2. https://algwa.net.au/state-branches
3. https://lgnsw.org.au/Public/Public/Policy/Women-in-Local-Government.aspx
4. https://www.localgovernment.vic.gov.au/our-programs/gender-equity
5. https://algwa.org.au/
6. https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/territories-regions-cities/local-government/awards/2021/women-local-government-award-winner
7. https://pathwaystopolitics.org.au/knowledge-hub/scorecard-women-political-representation/
8. https://www.mav.asn.au/what-we-do/policy-advocacy/social-community/gender-equality/women-in-local-government