More Scholarships To Support Women’s Board Leadership

The Andrews Labor Government is helping more women get the skills, experience and opportunities they need to get onto boards in Victoria.

Acting Minister for Women Jill Hennessy today opened applications for the new Women’s Board Leadership (WBL) program, which aims to increase the number and diversity of board-ready women in Victoria.

The WBL program expands on the previous Victorian Women’s Governance Scholarships program and provides 100 scholarships to women wanting to improve their board capabilities through courses, workshops, mentoring and networking opportunities.

The expanded program will also offer specific components for Aboriginal and culturally diverse women, who are significantly under-represented in leadership positions.

The program is a joint initiative of the Labor Government with Leadership Victoria and the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).

The program supports the Labor Government’s Gender Equality Strategy and its ongoing pledge to appoint 50 per cent women to paid government boards. This pledge has increased the number of women on paid boards in Victoria from 38 per cent to 50 per cent in just two years.

To support these initiatives, the Labor Government has also launched a new-look Victorian Women’s Register, which allows women to search and apply for board vacancies, and access a range of board resources.

Applications to the program close at 5:00pm Friday, 21 July, 2017.

For more information about the WBL program, visit vic.gov.au/women. For more information about the Victorian Women’s Register visit womensregister.vic.gov.au.

Quotes attributable to Acting Minister for Women Jill Hennessy

“We’re partnering with Leadership Victoria and the Australian Institute of Company Directors to give more women the skills, experience and opportunities they need to get onto boards in Victoria.”

“We are investing in the skills and capabilities of Victorian women because we know that increasing the number of women in leadership positions is crucial to achieving gender equality and building a stronger Victoria.”

Quote attributable to Leadership Victoria Chief Executive Richard Dent OAM

“We are delighted to partner with the Government to build women’s board skills, leadership capacity and networks in order to increase the number and diversity of women on boards in Victoria.”

Quote attributable to AICD Chairman Elizabeth Proust AO

“The AICD shares the Government’s commitment to increasing the number of women on boards as greater diversity enhances decision making and leads to better outcomes.”