The Minister congratulated the Victorian Chamber for bringing its women’s leadership program to Bendigo, saying it demonstrated the Chamber’s strong regional footprint.

The Deputy Premier, who soon celebrates 24 years as the member for Bendigo East, said that it is important to hold onto your authentic voice.

Chamber Change was created to be inclusive and collaborative, fulfilling a real need for women in Victoria’s business community.

The programs facilitated by Chamber Change are guided by a select group of women Champions who present at each of our sessions under the topics of either Balance, Empower or Career Journey. Our Victorian Chamber team experts also present on subjects such as Media and Communications, Workplace Health and Safety and Human Resources.

Since its launch, Chamber Change has completed three programs, the ongoing quality of which led to global recognition through a Best Gender Equity Project nomination at the World Chambers Congress (WCC) in May 2023.

The Best Gender Equity Project award identified chambers that implemented successful gender balance initiatives, showing positive outcomes for the sustainable development of chambers and their local communities.

Highlighting the success of Chamber Change, the most recent program – held from June to August 2023 – received 100 per cent positive feedback for:

• Empowering participants and setting them up for success
• Organisations benefiting from participants’ attendance
• Increasing participants’ networking circle.

Feedback was especially endorsing of all Victorian Chamber expert sessions and Champions.

Program Four starts on 13 September and is already at full capacity, with Victorian Minister for Education and Women Natalie Hutchins secured as a special guest speaker for the first session.

As Minister for Women, Ms Hutchens has overseen the implementation of Victoria’s first Gender Equality Strategy and ensured women have an equal voice in everything the government does.

The Victorian Chamber plans to expand the program into 2024, with updates to come.