"Women in the Labor Party have made enormous gains in recent years and Australian women can generally expect the face of Labor to be female. However, more must be done if we are to have a Labor Party which cherishes its past but faces its future with an organisational structure and culture truly inclusive of women as equals. Labor women, strengthened by their successes, are now ready and able to move on to create that future for Labor." .- Julia Gillard, Party Girls: Labor Women Now
EMILY's List Australia is currently developing a similar program to EL USA's "Political Opportunity Program (POP)" and "Campaign Corps" called The Next Generation" program. This program aims to be a long-term investment in ensuring the labour movement – our unions and our parliaments - achieve a critical mass of progressive women. It presents an innovative opportunity to systemically address the barriers young women face when developing as future leaders.
The program aims to:
1. Increase representation and employment opportunities within the ALP through political skilling and networking
Many of the skills transmission mechanisms in the ALP occur informally, or through factions. EMILY's List wants to provide a formal mechanism through which young women can side step this process and get the skills in an open and transparent fashion that rewards talent and merit, rather than old school boys' clubs.
2. Foster young and emerging progressive women with an interest in politics.
EMILY's List believes that young women need an opportunity to shine – prove that they have the talent and gain the skills to succeed as an activist and leader in progressive politics.
3. Provide an opportunity for current EL Women MPs to mentor new women
Many EMILY's List's members, including those who are Members of Parliament, have been extraordinarily successful in their political careers because of the support of other women. We need to continue the tradition of women mentoring women to ensure there young progressive women ready to take up the baton of women's leadership in the Labor Party and the labour movement.
The Program Includes:
- The Empowering Women Professional Development Training (hyperlink to this page)
- Mentoring and Networking Events tailored to young women, including Speed Date Mentoring for the time poor Generation X and Y.
Coming Soon – Election Campaign Political Internships
