others
fe atu re
leadership target lifted to minimum 40 per cent
The Australia Territory Gender Equity Committee has successfully recommended that the target for women in leadership be lifted from a minimum of 30 per cent to 40 per cent. After looking at recent statistics of female Salvation Army officers and staff in leadership throughout Australia, the committee found that The Salvation Army was already meeting, or getting close to meeting, the 30 per cent minimum target for women. Colonel Julie Campbell, Territorial Gender Equity Advocate, said it was encouraging to see progress being made.
Karen Lattouf facilitates the Leadership Development pilot for 20 women at Still Others in Melbourne last November.
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two married. In addition, two female divisional leaders (spouse of the divisional commander) have been appointed as divisional personnel officers; Thirty-five per cent of heads of department are women, both officers and employees; Appointment of an officer to research gender equity as part of doctorate studies.
As we address and improve the issue of gender equity for women in The Salvation Army, I believe that we will be a more effective and powerful Army, fulfilling our mission, strategy and vision to transform Australia one life at a time with the love of Jesus. It is a privilege and pleasure to be the National Gender Equity Advocate and I pray God will assist us to be courageous, so that we will achieve our goal to be a territory in which his intention for all people to flourish is realised. Colonel Julie Campbell is the Territorial Gender Equity Advocate, Australia Territory. This article is an amended version of a piece Julie wrote for The Officer magazine.
“The committee made a recommendation to the Territorial Board that we increase the target to a minimum of 40 per cent for women and a minimum of 40 per cent for men on the territorial board, committees, councils and all levels of leadership, with the remaining 20 per cent to be made up of either male or female appointments," said Colonel Campbell. “Eventually we’d love to see this filter throughout the movement. Many of our social centres already demonstrate diversity. We don’t expect that every centre, every corps and every department will look the same, but what we are asking is: ‘Please, look around and consider who are the best people for every role’ ... and ensure the skills and expertise of women are valued and acknowledged.” Colonel Campbell said while gender equity across The Salvation Army world might take a little longer, in Australia people could expect to see a significant shift in the near future. “I would think in the next 12 months to two years we will see lots of things happening. Already there are women being appointed into roles that have traditionally been male appointments, so it is happening.” – Lauren Martin
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