Media Releases

Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell opened the 2012 Australian Local Government Women’s Association conference with a call for action to address the gender imbalance in local government.

“Women outnumber men in Victoria and outnumber men as staff in local government, yet when it comes to leadership positions in local government women are in the minority,” said Mrs Powell.

Less than 30 percent of Victorian councillors are women. In the last local government elections, over a quarter of voter wards and un-subdivided municipalities had no women candidates. Today only 14 of 79
councils have female CEOs.

“The Victorian Coalition Government is taking direct action to expand the pool of intelligent and articulate women candidates,” Mrs Powell said.

The Coalition Government provided $200,000 to fund the Think Women for Local Government 2012 project which is based on the three principles of the Victorian Government Women’s Charter: gender equality, diversity, and women’s active citizenship

“Think Women” forums have been held across the state over the past six months to encourage women to participate and there are more planned.

“It’s through this kind of targeted support and encouragement for women considering candidacy that the imbalance of women at the local government level can really be tackled.

“Women add value to local government, as we do in all aspects of public life, through our broad range of skills, talents and perspectives.

“The World Economic Forum reported in 2010 that improvements in the gender gap were not progressing as quickly in Australia as in other nations.

“Goldman Sachs reported in 2009 that closing the gender gap in employment and increasing leadership positions for women would boost the level of GDP by 11 per cent,” said Mrs Powell.

“I encourage women across the State to actively consider candidacy at the upcoming council elections on the 27 of October this year,” said Mrs Powell.

Member for Shepparton and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Jeanette Powell today congratulated Eva Ponting from Shepparton on being one of twenty artists shortlisted for prizes totalling more than $50,000 as part of the Victorian Government’s 2012 Victorian Indigenous Art Awards.

Announced this week by Premier and Minister for the Arts Ted Baillieu, the Victorian Indigenous Art Awards play an important role in celebrating and promoting the work of the State’s Indigenous artists and our unique Koorie culture.

Twenty-seven works were selected from 132 entries for this year’s awards, with local artist Eva Ponting shortlisted as a finalist for her work Turtle Spirit Dreaming.

Mrs Powell said this is a wonderful achievement by Ms Ponting.

“She is an exceptional local artist who only last November earned a six month Indigenous Visual Arts Residency at the Shepparton Arts Museum,” Mrs Powell said.

“I encourage people to view Ms Ponting’s work when it is exhibited at the Victorian Indigenous Art Awards 2012, Fortyfive Downstairs Gallery, Flinders Lane, Melbourne in March.”

Mr Baillieu said the shortlisted artists worked across a variety of mediums, from traditional painting and weaving techniques to photography, sculpture, video and street art.

“There are many voices and many generations of Indigenous artists in Victoria working to uphold traditions and to express their culture in new and distinct ways,” Mr Baillieu said.

The awards, which give prizes across five categories, are open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists living in Victoria and, now in their seventh year, profile the diversity of Indigenous arts practice in Victoria and showcase the uniqueness of south-east Australian Aboriginal art.

This year’s finalists include both regional and metropolitan artists, past winners and several who have not been shortlisted before. Seven of the shortlisted artists have two artworks on the shortlist.

Details of the award categories are attached and for more information visit the Victorian Indigenous Art Awards blog: www.indigenousartawards.com.au

Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell and Minister for Women’s Affairs Mary Wooldridge today called for more women to consider nominating themselves for council elections in 2012.

Officially opening the first Think Women for Local Government 2012 forum in Euroa, North East Victoria, Mrs Powell said through the provision of community support and encouragement for women considering candidacy, the under-representation of women at the local government level could start to be addressed.

“In Victoria there are more women than men but fewer than 30 per cent of the state’s councillors are female. There are 14 councils with only one female councillor, while a small number of councils are without a female
councillor at all,” Mrs Powell said.

Minister Wooldridge said the Victorian Coalition Government recognised the imbalance and wanted to see significant representation of women in all aspects of community life.

“We are providing $200,000 to fund the Think Women for Local Government 2012 project to encourage women in regional and metropolitan areas to actively consider candidacy at the upcoming council election,” Ms Wooldridge said.

“As in all aspects of public life, women add value to local government through their skills, talents and perspectives. Having women councillors adds to the richness of the representation and debate about important local issues.”

The Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA) is leading the work to deliver this project, which is funded by the Victorian Office of Women’s Policy.

Speaking as a former Councillor, Shire President and Commissioner, Mrs Powell said working in local government provided an opportunity to address the issues you believed in, and contribute to the policy and
programs that had a direct impact on your community.

“I encourage any woman who believes they have something to contribute and want to give back to their community to consider standing for their local council,” Mrs Powell said.

Elections for Victoria’s 79 local government areas are run every four years and the next elections are scheduled for October 2012.

State Member for Shepparton Jeanette Powell is encouraging women aged 50-69 to have regular screening mammograms after BreastScreen Victoria found only half of women in this age group in Shepparton had a mammogram in 2008-10.
Mrs Powell was invited by the chief executive of BreastScreen Victoria Vicki Pridmore to the launch of the inaugural annual BreastScreen Victoria Electorate Report Card, at Parliament last week (Oct 27).
“I was pleased to attend this event with many of my colleagues because we need to raise awareness that the early detection of breast cancer through regular breast screens will save lives,” Mrs Powell said.
“In Shepparton, 50 per cent of the eligible female population had a breast screen between 2008-10. This was marked by BreastScreen Victoria as a fair result, and compared to the state average of 53.8 per cent,” Mrs Powell said.
“BreastScreen Victoria’s target rate for Victoria is 70 per cent.”
“I would encourage all women within this age group to book in for a mammogram. They are free and it is important that if a woman does have breast cancer, it is detected early as treatment is more likely to be successful.”
A fixed screening unit is located at Goulburn Valley Screening Centre, 104 Nixon St, Shepparton. Phone 13 20 50 for an appointment. No doctor’s referral is needed.

PIC - Members of Parliament including Member for Shepparton Jeanette Powell attend the inaugural annual BreastScreen Victoria Electorate Report Card, at Parliament last week (Oct 27).

State Member for Shepparton Jeanette Powell is encouraging women in the Shepparton district to nominate a remarkable local woman for the 2012 Victorian Honour Roll of Women.

Nominations for the roll have now opened and Mrs Powell said she was certain there would be women in the Shepparton district who deserved to be nominated.

“This is an excellent opportunity to acknowledge the wonderful achievements, hard work and outstanding leadership of remarkable women in our community,” Mrs Powell said.

“In the past I have been on the selection panel of the Victorian Honour Roll for Women and it is wonderful to celebrate the achievements of inspiring women.”

The new inductees to the roll will be announced during International Women’s Day celebrations in March 2012.

Since its inception in 2001 as part of Victoria’s Centenary of Federation celebrations, 478 women have been included on the Honour Roll.

“There are already a number of very worthy women from the Shepparton district on the honour roll and I know there are many more that deserve to be on it,” Mrs Powell said.

Nominations are open until 21 December 2011. Application forms and guidelines are available at www.women.vic.gov.au, or by contacting the Office of Women’s Policy at the Department of Human Services on (03) 9918 7345.

Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell has drawn on her personal journey from local government councillor to Minister in her speech opening the Local Government Women’s Professional Development Forum today.

Speaking to more than 200 women who serve Victoria’s communities in various roles, Minister Powell urged a continued focus on how to achieve equality between men and women in local government.

“I’m fully aware that the local government sector has a fair distance to travel before men and women will be found in equal numbers in both the elected representatives and the ranks of senior management,” Mrs Powell said.

There are only 18 female mayors in Victoria, just 30 per cent of councillors are female and there are 5 councils with no female councillors currently sitting.

Only 18 per cent of Victoria’s 79 councils have female CEOs and research indicates that just 20 per cent of senior management in local government are women.

“We need to do better than we currently do in assisting women to rise to the most senior positions in local government,” Mrs Powell said.

“With women accounting for more than 50 per cent of graduates from law schools, medical schools and economic faculties the days when women lacked the qualifications or experience to take on the top jobs in our society are long behind us.

“Other impediments are restricting the climb of women to top of the professional tree and we need to identify and remove those obstacles,” Mrs Powell said.

To help address the issue the Victorian Government has partnered with the Victorian Local Governance Association on the Think Women for Local Government 2012 project.

The project is based on the three principles of gender equality, diversity and women’s active citizenship and its aim is to increase the number and diversity of female candidates in the 2012 local government elections.

The 2011 Telstra Business Women’s Awards are open for nominations and Member for Shepparton Jeanette Powell is encouraging Shepparton people to nominate an outstanding business woman in the Shepparton district for an award.

“The Telstra Business Women’s awards provide an opportunity for women who have made a significant contribution to the workforce to receive the accolades they deserve,” Mrs Powell said.

“There are many women in the Shepparton district who have achieved great things in many different business fields and these awards provide an opportunity to acknowledge and congratulate them.”

Winners and finalists are offered recognition of their achievements, networking opportunities and a share in more than $200,000 cash and prizes.

The 2011 Telstra Business Women’s Awards have different categories that recognise women who own a business, employees in the government and not-for-profit sector, innovation in the workplace and a category for women aged 34 years or younger.

The Telstra Business Women’s Awards presentation luncheon will be held in Melbourne on October 18 and a National Awards ceremony gala dinner will be held in Melbourne on November 18.

Nominations for the Awards can be made at telstrabusinesswomensawards.com or by phoning 1800 817 536. Entries are open until June 20, 2011.

Shadow Minister for Local Government Jeanette Powell is encouraging female employees of Victorian councils to apply for an annual study award through the Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA).
Mrs Powell, a Life Member of ALGWA, said the award was aimed at encouraging and assisting women in the local government sector to further their education.
“The award is given in memory of Marie Wallace OAM JP, a past State and National President of ALGWA who advocated for women’s participation in local government,” Mrs Powell said.
“The award is an opportunity for women in local government to increase their skills and I encourage permanent female members of staff in a Victorian shire or council to apply.
“It is open to women who have already commenced studies at a diploma level or higher at a recognised tertiary institution on a part time or external basis.
“Applicants must be able to demonstrate an ability to make a positive contribution to their area of employment and their employer through further tertiary study.”
Applications close on Monday 6th September 2010, with the winner of the study award to be announced at a function on Thursday 7 October at Room K in Parliament House in Melbourne.
The study award winner will be required to give a presentation at a function to be determined by the ALGWA State Executive.
Applications close on Monday 6th September 2010, with all applications received treated in strictest confidence and the granting of the award subject to the discretion of the ALGWA.
Further information may be obtained from Cr Cheryl Bromfield, Committee Coordinator, email: cherylbromfield@ballarat.vic.gov.au or phone 0448 024 755.