The Eurobodalla is one of four NSW councils that have no female councillors, something many shire women obviously want to change.
More than 70 Eurobodalla women have registered for Eurobodalla Shire Council’s Women in Local Government Forum this evening, which council has organised to encourage women in council positions, and in leadership roles.
The forum will be held tonight at council chambers and the keynote speaker, Australian Local Government Women’s Association president Julie Griffiths, is coming prepared with some strong messages.
“Local government is a more male-dominated workforce,” she said.
“Women bring a broader perspective for better decision-making. We look outside the square. We look at how the decisions we make are having an impact not only on council, but employees, and how it will affect the ratepayer.
“By having a broader demographic where you’ve got men, women, young and old - I think you need a mixture - it brings a different demographic to how you look at things.”
She said women were more inclined to focus on the community’s social infrastructure, like childcare and social services.
“We look at childcare, aged care, and what services are being provided around the community … you
typically find our male colleagues, they look
at roads, rates and
rubbish.
“I firmly believe a balance on council provides a holistic approach to gender balance in the community.”
Ms Griffiths is also a Blacktown City councillor, a position she’s held since 2008.
She says her time on council “is the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done”.
When Ms Griffiths received the call from Eurobodalla Shire Council asking her to speak at tonight’s forum, she said she was “so excited”.
“I believe they see this as a way to encourage more women to participate at a local government level.”
She said tonight’s forum would help women get to the top of group tickets in the voting process.
“I think that for our organisation, it’s about empowering women to want to be the top one on the ticket, and to also give them the tools they can use to campaign.”
The forum will start at 5pm at Eurobodalla Shire Council Chambers.
