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This article was published on Thursday, 4 June, 2020. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate. News articles and media releases older than 60 days are archived for future reference.

Local Women Leading Change: Local women to benefit from workshop ahead of 2020 Council elections

Posted on Thursday 4th of June, 2020,

The Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), in partnership with Greater Shepparton City Council and the Victorian Government, will hold a free Greater Shepparton Candidate Development Workshop via Zoom this August, encouraging women in the Goulburn Valley to run for local government in the 2020 Council elections.

The workshop forms part of the Local Women Leading Change campaign, and will be held online from 5.30pm-7.30pm on Thursday 27 August.

For those interested in running for Council, the VLGA’s workshops provide strategies and key skills for managing your campaign, policy platforms, planning for success and connecting with community and convincing voters.

There are currently four women Councillors on Greater Shepparton City Council, Cr Shelley Sutton, Cr Fern Summer, Cr Kim O’Keeffe and Mayor Cr Seema Abdullah.

“Greater Shepparton women have a significant contribution to make to public life. Their connections to their community, their skills and their unique perspectives mean they are rich with potential to be great local councillors,” Greater Shepparton City Council CEO Peter Harriott said.

“Women make up 51 per cent of Victoria’s population – and they should make up more than 38 per cent of local government councillors in Victoria.

“It is critical that we continue to encourage local women from a diversity of backgrounds, experiences and abilities to run for local government.”

The campaign Local Women Leading Change recognises the important roles that women play in their communities, working with others to achieve positive change. The VLGA and Greater Shepparton City Council are attempting to connect women with the knowledge, skills and contacts to do that on a larger scale – as local government councillors.

Registrations for the Shepparton session are essential. Register here.

The session will be held online due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The VLGA is also currently providing free online Local Government 101 workshops for potential candidates, more information here or on the Local Women Leading Change Facebook page.