Regional Services: 2007-08 Budget initiatives
Women on Boards
'At the Table: Getting the best people and making the right decisions for regional and rural Australia' is the report of the inquiry into women's representation on regional and rural bodies of influence in Australia. The report was presented to the Minister for Transport and Regional Services in August 2006. The recommendations of the report focus on developing strategies to increase the number of regional and rural women on boards thereby improving diversity and decision-making capacity in regional and rural Australia.
The 2007-08 Budget delivers $4.5 million over four years to underpin the Australian Government response to 'At the Table' and to implement the Regional Women's Action Plan for Women's Representation. The Action Plan comprises four elements:
- improving information on the benefits of increased participation by regional women;
- influencing demand from regional boards;
- improving pathways for women's participation on regional boards; and
- increasing networking and mentoring opportunities for regional women.
In 2007-08, two key initiatives will be funded:
- a mentoring programme for board candidates and high performing boards in regional areas will be established; and
- a board toolkit for regional boards will be developed.