Our Women in Community Life Advisory (WiCLAC) Committee was established in 2013 to advise Council on matters relating to women's participation, representation and leadership in community life.
Mission
Equality, inclusion and respect for women in Greater Geelong.
Purpose
The purpose of the Women in Community Life Advisory
Committee (WiCLAC) is to provide advice to Council on matters relating to the participation, representation, leadership, recognition, safety,
and wellbeing of women in the City of Greater Geelong, to contribute to the
advancement of gender equity in the Geelong community.
WiCLAC is guided by:
The committee aims to represent the interests and rights of
women from all backgrounds in Geelong. This includes everyone who identifies as
a woman, including cis and trans women.
Committee Members
12 committee members were appointed for a 2-year term during 2023-2025.
Independent Community Member
- I am the CEO of The Q Train Bellarine, my family owned and run tourism restaurant on the Bellarine. I’m also a mum to two busy pre-schoolers.
- Being a member of WiCLAC is important to me because I love being an active member of the Geelong community, and I’m passionate about removing participation obstacles for other women in our region.
- If I could change one thing today to make the future better it would be to ensure reliable, affordable child-minding/early education services were available 7 days a week to allow women in all industries to return to work if they wish.
- Someone I admire is Jamila Rizvi. A gender equality advocate who eloquently and persuasively fights for women’s rights.
Representative of Cultura
- I am a family violence prevention project worker and a community employment connector at Cultura.
Also, I am currently studying a bachelor in Psychology.
- Being a member of WiCLAC is important to me because it gives me the opportunity to connect with diverse and inspiring women to share my deep passion and commitment for human rights and gender equity, and helping ensure a full enjoyment of human rights by all women.
- If I could change one thing today to make the future better it would be ensuring a full enjoyment of gender equity by all girls and women around the world.
- Someone I admire is all women who work tirelessly to pave the way for other women to stand up for their rights.
Also, all my colleagues at Cultura for all their dedication and amazing work towards the community.
Representative of the Sexual Assault and Family Violence Centre (SAFVC)
- I am an Executive Manager at the Sexual Assault and Family Violence Centre and a member of the Barwon Area Integrated Family Violence Committee.
- Being a member of WiCLAC is important to me because advancing gender equity across the Geelong community is key to achieving gender equality, which ultimately supports the prevention of violence against women and children and makes our community safer and healthier.
- If I could change one thing today to make the future better it would be eradicating sexual and family violence. The impacts of the violence and trauma is significant and devastating for so many individuals, families and broader community.
- Someone I admire is… there are so many incredible people working tirelessly every day to advocate and enact change so that we are safer, healthier, and live in a more just and equitable community. I admire each and every one of these people.
Representative of Geelong Regional Library Corporation
- I am the Manager, City & Urban Operations at
Geelong Regional Library Corporation.
- Being
a member of WiCLAC is important to me
because I believe that
gender equity is a necessary foundation for a strong community. Many
women still face barriers to their full participation in society, for many
reasons, often systemic and often including experiencing family violence,
mental illness or homelessness. Without women’s full participation in society,
progress towards a peaceful and sustainable world will be limited.
- If
I could change one thing today to make the future better it would be to encourage more empathy in the world. We
may not be able to understand why people do what they do, but we can try to ask
ourselves where they might be coming from and find a way to work together.
- Someone
I admire is Malala
Yousafzai. Not only for her work as an activist for the right for education for
women and children, but also because she is someone who has suffered greatly
for speaking up about injustice and yet she continues to do so. Her goal to
fight injustice through peace, dialogue and education is inspiring.
Representative of Epworth Geelong
Independent community member
- I am a self-employed consultant at strategic
advisory company tandemVox and member of the Barwon Regional Partnership and
other local committees and boards. As a long-time advocate, I am committed to
giving voice to issues and ideas that improve people’s lives.
- Being
a member of WiCLAC is important to me because I believe that people want to have safe, joyful and creative lives. True gender
equity will only be achieved if we recognise and accept that we all have
biases. We need to listen deeply and learn.
- If
I could change one thing today to make the future better it would be accepting that we are in a world where certain
systems create oppression. If we could move towards an environment where we
challenge inequitable systems and creatively think of better ways to do things,
change can occur.
- Someone
I admire is Dr Dale Spender.
A prolific author, speaker, academic who has been a wonderful mentor to me for
over 20 years. As a feminist, Dale’s thinking has helped shape who I am and
taught me to question everything.
Independent community member
- I am a community lawyer at Barwon Community Legal Service, an in-house school lawyer, and sit on the board of Economic Justice Australia.
- Being a member of WiCLAC is important to me because I see the direct impact and consequences gender inequality has on society through my work. It is important to me that our voices are heard by those that make decisions about the community in which we live.
I am very grateful to be able to work alongside truly inspiring women as part of this committee and for the opportunity to learn from each of them.
- If I could change one thing today to make the future better it would be prejudice. There is always more than meets the eye in every situation and a reasoning behind actions, beliefs or choices that may not always be evident.
- Someone I admire is first and foremost my parents. They are the strongest, most loving and hardworking people I know. I admire my colleagues at Barwon Community Legal Service. They never fail to inspire me with their dedication, energy and individual attributes.
Representative of Women in Local Democracy (WILD) Geelong
- I am the convenor of Women in Local Democracy (WILD) Geelong and member of the Northern Bellarine International Women's Day Committee.
- Being a member of WiCLAC is important to me because of the opportunity it provides to meet a diverse range of progressive women and influence Council policy and actions aimed at tackling gender inequity.
- If I could change one thing today to make the future better it would be equal representation of women and men as elected representatives on Council.
- Someone I admire is Vida Goldstein. As a first wave feminist she was leader in the fight for women's suffrage not only in Australia, but also in Great Britain and USA. She also campaigned for equal pay, unemployment rights, and reform of marriage and divorce laws, and was a pacifist during World War I. In 1903 she was the first woman to stand for a parliament in the British Empire.
Jenny Wills was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2022 for service to local government, to gender equality, and to the community.
Independent community member
- I am a vendor at The Big Issue, a fur mum to a cat who knows exactly what he wants, and I sit on the Local Organising Committee for VALID’s Having A Say Conference.
- Being a member of WiCLAC is important to me because I want the Geelong community to recognise women with disabilities and the struggles we face daily especially where the health system comes into it.
- If I could change one thing today to make the future better it would be to make a positive impact on people with disabilities. Women with disabilities in particular are getting left behind.
- Someone I admire isso many women for many reasons but only one really speaks to me and that is my best friend in the entire world Ellie Blackney. She is the strongest woman I know and she is always there for me.
Independent community member
- I am an Emeritus Professor at Australian Catholic University, still researching and writing, particularly about historical institutional abuse.
- Being a member of WiCLAC is important to me because I wanted to use my skills to give back to the community in which I live.
- If I could change one thing today to make the future better it would be a real and shared commitment to gender equity.
- Someone I admire is... all women who make a commitment to social change and really act on it. Rosie Batty is an obvious example but there are (and have been) many others.
Shurlee was appointed Member of the Order of Australia in 2018 for significant service to education, particularly through comparative social history, as an academic, author, and researcher, and to the community.
Independent community member
- I am a Communications Manager, a mum, wife, daughter, sister and a friend.
- Being a member of WiCLAC is important to me because I didn’t feel I could have an opinion on equity and women in community life if I wasn’t at least attempting to
understand it better, and support it.
- If I could change one thing today to make the future better it would be thinking outside our own experiences, empowering the next generation to be empathetic and open-minded.
- Someone I admire is... anyone who steps outside their comfort zone, questions the status quo or takes time to help others. It’s difficult to thrive when you’re just surviving.
Independent community member
- I am a National Health and Medical Research Council Early Career Research Fellow at Deakin University
- Being a member of WiCLAC is important to me because it gives me an opportunity to make a positive contribution to my local community.
- If I could change one thing today to make the future better it would be – just one thing...? I would provide equal access to education for girls and women all over the world.
- Someone I admire is Elizabeth Blackburn, because she is a Nobel Prize winning Australian scientist.
Terms of Reference
Need to know more...
The Women in Community Life Advisory Committee can be contacted by:
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: facebook.com/womenincommunitylife