The document describes a national awards and accreditation program called the 50:50 Vision Program that aims to promote gender equity in Australian local government. The program recognizes councils at three levels - Bronze, Silver, and Gold - for their efforts and achievements in increasing women's representation. Over 150 councils are registered so far, with 50 achieving the Bronze level. The program is seen as helping drive cultural change and legitimizing gender as a key governance issue.

1. NATIONAL AWARDS
AND
ACCREDITATION
PROGRAM FOR
LOCAL
GOVERNMENT

2.  Australian Local Government Women (ALGWA)
 Australian Centre of Excellence in Local
Government (ACELG)

3. Local government in
Australia...
 556 councils
 Area – from 2 k² to 380,000 k²
 Population – from < 200 to nearly 1 million
 Established under state law
 Not mentioned in constitution, but represented in
federal forums
 Total expenditure around 20 billion (2.5% GDP)
 About 85% self-funding (on average)

4. Women in local
government...
 5070 elected representatives (28.4% female)
 556 Mayors (20% female)
 Around 185,400 employees (43% female)
 556 CEO’s (8% female)
 In 2006 40% of female staff were part time

5. Women in local
government...

6. Why is gender equity
important?
Business imperative...
The companies where women are most strongly
represented at board or top management level are
also the companies that perform best, on both
organisational and financial performance.*
Democratic imperative...
A government which does not reflect the diversity of its
community is a government unable to respond to the
needs and aspirations of the community it serves
Workforce imperative...
By not promoting diversity and gender equity in the
workplace and through recruitment and retention
policies, local government is further limiting its supply
of skilled employees
* McKinsey & Company, Women Matter: Gender
diversity, a corporate performance
drive, France, 2007.

7. Why is gender equity
important?

8. What can we do about
it?
NATIONAL AWARDS AND
ACCREDITATION PROGRAM
FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT

9. 50:50 Vision program...
 National awards and
accreditation program
 Endorsed by Local
Government and Planning
Ministers
 Launched by Minister Tanya
Plibersek on 17 June at
Parliament House
 Accessible for all councils
regardless of size or
location

10. 50:50 Vision Program...

11. 50:50 Vision Program...
... Bronze Award:

 Audit of staff/representative
gender ratios
 Council endorsed statement
of commitment to address
gender equity issues
 Detail at least one project to
address gender equity
issues
 Nominate a 50:50 Vision
champion within the
organisation

12. 50:50 Vision Program...
 Silver Award: ...
 Councils must achieve
certification in three of the
following areas...
 Commitment and
leadership
 Nomination and
recruitment
 Remuneration, recognition
and training
 Work and family balance
 And complete an on-line
supportive culture survey

13. 50:50 Vision Program...
... Gold Award:

 Councils must
demonstrate...
 National leadership
 Excellence
 Innovation
 Gold Awards are peer
reviewed

14. 50:50 Vision Program...
 150 councils registered
 50 councils have bronze
 2 have Silver and working towards
Gold

15. 50:50 Vision Program...
 What they say about the program:
 “it helps to achieve genuine cultural
change
 “the award system really helps to sell it”
 “Senior management really get on board”
 “We were able to justify a program to
encourage women to stand for council”
 “It legitimises gender as a governance
issue in local government”

16. 50:50 Vision Program...
Does your council have
50:50 Vision?
Go to
www.5050vision.com.au to
find out more and register
your council.
Thank you!