The council elections in March 2020 saw unprecedented numbers of women – comprising 38 per cent of councillors and 27 per cent of mayors – elected to local governments in Queensland.
A tremendous opportunity is now open for women councillors to develop their leadership skills through the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning’s Women Leading in Local Government program, which delivers professional development that is tailored to each participant’s experience and offers the chance to:
- become more aware of their personal strengths, values, motivators, aspirations and limitations
- build their skills in effective communication, negotiation and engagement strategies
- increase their knowledge of personal resilience and wellbeing practices
- strengthen their self-management skills and techniques
- build confidence in their ability to create change
- develop self-promotional skills around core leadership ideals
- increase their methods for dynamic thinking, greater understanding of changing environments and situational awareness
- continue to build a strong peer support network.
One Queensland councillor who recently completed the program told organisers, “I gained so much positive inspiration, practical knowledge and confidence: far more than any other formal training courses I’ve participated in”.
Women councillors are encouraged to apply for a place in this high-level, self-paced program that will be run in an inclusive and safe environment, with tuition fees to be paid by the Department. The course will be delivered remotely over eight months (February to September 2021), due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Expressions of interest close Friday 18 December and you’ll find application criteria and further information here.