Community
11 April, 2025
Workshops to empower women
A SERIES of workshops aimed at empowering rural women and building their leadership confidence will be rolled out across the region next month.
Developed under the auspice of Leadership Great South Coast, the Rural Women LEAD (Learn, Engage, Achieve, Develop) program includes several workshops created and delivered by regional women.
Co-organiser and Leadership Great South Coast executive officer Kate Roache said women were underrepresented in leadership roles across south west Victoria.
“There is a significant body of evidence that demonstrates that diversity in leadership and decision-making results in better outcomes,” Ms Roache said.
“Supporting women in our rural and regional communities to connect, explore and claim their place in leadership is rewarding.
“It’s also necessary for our communities to be the best they can be.”
Rural Women LEAD creates opportunities for rural women across south west Victoria to LEAD together through a series of five workshops.
These workshops will focus on building capability through learning together, reflecting and developing strategies to challenge stereotypes, gender roles and prejudice for cultural change and gender equality.
They will also aim to support and empower women’s leadership and progression in the region, and will celebrate and promote local women and their contributions and achievements in their communities across south west Victoria.
The workshops will also aim to create an opportunity to connect, network and collaborate in a brave/accountable space.
Each session will be facilitated by experienced and engaging women, including Lynne Cazaly, Allison Patchett, Sherri Johnstone, Karen Foster, Jessica Fishburn, Jodie Flemming and Trudy Marr.
Ms Roache said Leadership Great South Coast has led the development of this program in collaboration with Ducks on the Pond podcast, o2Advisory, GenHealth, Are-able, Wannon Water, and Women’s Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West (WHWBSW).
WHWBSW chief executive Jodie Hill said the program was not about ‘fixing’ women to fit a traditional leadership mold.
“It’s about empowering women to lead by understanding themselves, connecting and leveraging their unique strengths,” Ms Hill said.
“We know that across our region, there are communities where less than 30 per cent of leadership roles are held by women, so initiatives like this are very important.”
Participants can choose to undertake one or more workshops that are of particular interest, or they can opt to do the whole series which has been funded via a grant from Elders.
Tickets are selling fast and can be purchased at https://events.humanitix.com/rural women-lead.
Registrations for each workshop are limited.
The first workshop of the series will be held on Friday, May 9 at Stonefield Lane in Koroit.
The initiative aims to deliver workshops in locations across the region.
Other venues will include Conlan’s Wine Store at Port Fairy, Deakin University Warrnambool, Union Station Hotel Woolsthorpe and Sterling Place Dunkeld.
