YWCA Adelaide Annual Report 2013-14 | Page 19

LEADERSHIP PATHWAY & THE NATIONAL AGENDA Investing in young women’s leadership is a core priority of the YWCA movement at an international level. Through the establishment of SHE Leads, YWCA Adelaide has embraced this agenda and brought life to its meaning at a local level. Inherent in SHE Leads is the concept of a leadership pathway that creates safe ways for girls and young women to actively engage in learning and testing leadership skills whilst building networks of support and leadership role models and resources. 2013-14 has seen this initiative be further adopted by other membership associations in Australia, with the creation of a National Women’s Leadership Pathway. This is very exciting as it heralds increased collaboration and synergy between the states and territories and is strengthened by the increased resources and research that such collaboration brings. Through research YWCA Australia is further articulating the model of the Women’s Leadership Pathway and how current and future programs that focus on the development of leadership amongst women and girls will connect together at a national level. YWCA Adelaide is rightly proud of the leadership it has shown in taking up this direction early, and is excited about the contribution SHE Leads has provided to this agenda. We will continue to work on strengthening its relevance to diverse communities and further contribute to the National Women’s Leadership agenda whilst increasing the diversity amongst our own local Y community.