The document discusses a national awards and accreditation program called 50:50 Vision that aims to promote gender equity in Australian local government. The program recognizes councils at three levels (Bronze, Silver, Gold) for their efforts and achievements in increasing women's representation. Currently over 150 councils are registered, with 50 achieving the Bronze level. The program is seen as helping councils make genuine cultural changes to address issues like recruitment, training, and work-life balance.

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
* McKinsey & Company, Women Matter: Gender
diversity, a corporate performance drive, France,
and retention policies, local government is
2007. further limiting its supply of skilled

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

8. 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

9. 50:50 Vision
Program...

10. 50:50 Vision
Program...
 Bronze
... Award:
 Audit of
staff/representati
ve 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

11. 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

12. 50:50 Vision
Program...
... Gold Award:

 Councils must
demonstrate...
 National
leadership
 Excellence
 Innovation
 Gold Awards are
peer reviewed

13. 50:50 Vision
Program...
 150 councils registered
 50 councils have bronze
 1 has Silver and is
working on Gold

14. 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

15. 50:50 Vision
Program...
Does your
council have
50:50 Vision?
Go to
www.5050vision.co
m.au to find out
more and register
your council.
Thank you!