Online training to encourage women to stand for Council elections
Published on 05 May 2020
Colac Otway Shire is encouraging local residents to consider making a difference in their community and standing for Council at this year’s October election.
Council Chief Executive Peter Brown said with less than six months to the next Colac Otway Shire Council election, it was important that prospective candidates had all the information and support they needed.
“Colac Otway has many opportunities for great achievements ahead and like other municipalities, there will be challenges to navigate and significant decisions to be made to guide the future directions and growth of our shire.
“There will be economic development through business and our shire’s dynamic industries, residential growth and infrastructure planning for our diverse communities; all within our budget restraints.
“Standing for Council is the ultimate way to be part of that essential decision making for our community.”
Meanwhile, the Victorian Local Government Association is continuing to support Councils and communities in local democracy with a range of training opportunities for Council candidates.
The VLGA is currently rolling out a candidate training program to encourage more women to be candidates and has gone online in response to the COVID19 restrictions.
The Local Women Leading Change candidate training program, supported by the State Government, consists of two modules, Local Government 101 and Candidate Development.
These modules will be delivered by video and supported by interactive Zoom workshops, in response to COVID19 restrictions.
The ‘Local Government 101’ videos are now live on the VLGA website and the Local Women Leading Change Facebook page.
Registrations are also open on the VLGA website for Local Government 101 interactive workshop sessions at a number of different times and dates.
The VLGA is also producing a weekly Local Women Leading Change Podcast, where women will have the chance to send in questions for current and former women Councillors and hear their views, and explore different aspects of local government elections in more detail.
Colac Otway Shire is urging anyone interested in learning more about being a Councillor and the work of Local Government to register for an online workshop, watch the VLGA videos and listen to the weekly podcasts.