Collaboration to boost leadership rates of disadvantaged women

A new program has been announced that aims to boost the participation of culturally and racially marginalised (CARM) and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) women in leadership positions.

The Diversity Council Australia (DCA), Settlement Services International (SSI), and Chief Executive Women (CEW) have teamed up to promote their Realise. Inspire. Support. Energise. (RISE) program.

The collaboration aims to support CARM and CALD women reach leadership positions and address barriers that prevent these women from reaching these roles.

“DCA’s research shows that 65 per cent of CARM women feel they have been ignored or not taken seriously by their manager. The fact is that CARM women often struggle to be visible and respected in the workplace. Racial type-casting and ‘not fitting the culture of the company’ are used as justification as to why CARM women are not succeeding at the same rate as other women – let alone men,” said Dr Astrid Perry OAM, SSI head of women.

“This project moves away from a deficit model, where CARM women have to improve their own prospects, to a solutions-focused model where structural barriers are addressed together with the support of guided conversations, career planning, mentoring and leadership programs.”

The next three years will see 25 organisations and 375 CARM women in management positions work with the program. These women will participate in leadership programs to help advance their careers.

Lisa Annese, DCA chief executive, commented on the announcement: “DCA’s recent research into culturally and racially marginalised (CARM) women in leadership found that despite being ambitious, capable, resilient, and well positioned to contribute to their own and their organisation’s success, CARM women continue to be scarce across senior leadership positions in Australia and internationally.”

“Our research recognised that it was not the women themselves, but structural barriers preventing CARM women [from] accessing leadership. This program will work with Australian organisations to address those barriers. And in doing so, create more inclusive organisations for CARM women.”

The program is funded by the Office for Women under the Women’s Leadership and Development Program.

Chief Executive Women CEO Susan Metcalf discussed the importance of the initiative: “The CEW census, which tracks women’s representation in executive leadership teams, tells us we are 100 years from reaching gender balance in CEO roles on the ASX 200.”

She continued: “We must accelerate change. This program will play an active role in enabling women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds with access to CEW’s Leadership Development programs, providing them with the space and opportunity to learn, build new networks and accelerate their leadership journey.”