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Background

The Office for Women has lead responsibility for ensuring that more women are able to make a contribution as leaders and key decision makers in the South Australian community, and for the following women’s leadership targets in South Australia’s Strategic Plan

• T5.1 Boards and committees (existing – modified): increase the number of women on all State Government boards and committees to 50% on average by 2008, and maintain thereafter by ensuring that 50% of women are appointed, on average, each quarter.
• T5.2 Chairs of boards and committees (existing – modified): increase the number of women chairing State Government boards and committees to 50% by 2010.

At 1 March 2008, women held 44% of positions on government boards and committees.

At 1 March 2008, women held 32%of chair positions on government boards and committees.

As of 1 April 2008 the Premier’s Women’s Directory has over 495 CVs of highly qualified board ready women.

Innovation

Premiers Women’s Directory

Following the release of the SASP targets 5.1 and 5.2 in 2004 the Premier’s Council for Women instigated the development of the Premier's Women's Directory as a strategy to assist in reaching the government targets. The Premier's Women's Directory was launched in August 2005 with 100 women. Located at www.premierswomensdirectory.sa.gov.au it is resource for organisations to locate suitably qualified women for board appointments in South Australia. Those responsible for searching for candidates for boards and committees can apply for a password to access the Premier's Women's Directory. Currently there are over 300 password holders, with many more individual searches undertaken by the Office for Women for organisations in the private and public sector. Not for profit organisations in particular are encouraged to use the Premier's Women's Directory to diversify the make up of their boards. The Premier's Women's Directory continues to expand in the number and diversity of women.

Legislation

The Acts Interpretation (Gender Balance) Amendment Act, came into effect on 21 July 2005. The Act establishes a legislative requirement for non-government entities to include women when nominating positions under statutory provisions. The legislation provides for the nomination of panels which must include both genders from which the Governor or Minister is to select a person for appointment to a board or committee.

Leadership and board training

The Office for Women has coordinated a range of leadership and board training in South Australia. This has involved the development of partnerships with organisations such as AIMSA, AICD, Chartered Secretaries and the National Women on Boards. In addition specific strategies to address diversity such as

• A partnership with Multicultural SA and the South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission (SAMEAC) to jointly fund a leadership course for culturally and linguistically diverse women which provided accredited training, developed and delivered by TAFE SA. The Advanced Leadership Course enabled participants to gain a Certificate III in Business - Frontline Management qualification.
• Providing resume writing workshops for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.