A wider world for women
A NEW course developed at Deakin University is set to empower 30 Indonesian women leaders with enhanced leadership roles within their communities.
The Leadership Development Course for Islamic Women Leaders will explore critical issues in women’s leadership, including how transformative feminist leadership offers an alternative to traditional, masculine-oriented leadership styles.
Developed and led by Deakin’s Alfred Deakin Institute’s (ADI) Senior Research Fellow, Dr Rebecca Barlow, in partnership with Australia Awards in Indonesia and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the course has been funded by a prestigious Australia Awards Scholarships “Short Term Award” from the Australian Government.
Dr Barlow, who is an expert in women’s leadership, said the ADI was thrilled to have the opportunity to implement the project on behalf of Australia Awards in Indonesia and looked forward to welcoming the delegation of Indonesian Islamic women leaders to Melbourne this month.
Participants have been selected from universities, religious institutions, and women’s and other civil society organisations.
“Ultimately, it will equip the women with the knowledge and skills to help increase women’s participation in the workforce in Indonesia and in the public sphere in general, in their communities, philanthropy and entrepreneurialism,” said ADI deputy director of International Partnerships and course adviser, Professor Shahram Akbarzadeh.
“In the workforce it will help them address structural, cultural and internal barriers to women’s participation, such as power relations, especially in male-dominated fields.”
Dr Barlow said the course would entail a 10-day visit to Melbourne and two three-day sessions in Indonesia.
The Melbourne phase will include site visits to leading multicultural and women’s organisations, high-level meetings, expert panels and networking sessions.
Participants will also meet with influential Australian women leaders from a range of fields, including health, the media, business and the notfor-profit sector, as well as local, state and federal politics.
“They will be exposed to the range of women’s organisations in Australia, as well as the policies and procedures that we have here, but the learning will very much be two-way,” Dr Barlow said.
“The course is geared towards relationship building. Indonesia is one of Australia’s largest strategic partners.
“As a result of the course, the women will have the ability to fine-tune their leadership skills and adapt the strategies they have developed during the course to the local context in Indonesia.
“They will acquire the capacity to be key players in improving economic, social, and cultural development in their own organisations, as well as in the wider community.
“They will also be in a position to build global networks for future women leaders.
“We hope that it will have a multiplying effect, particularly through the leadership action plans they develop as part of the program, which they will implement in their workplace or community when they return.”