Lisa Richardson doesn’t consider herself a role model; however, there are plenty of reasons to look up to and admire the passionate advocate from Boggabri, who at the age of 34 was the youngest person elected to serve on the Narrabri Shire Council at the 2021 election.

Alongside Cathy Redding, Lisa is one of only two women serving on the current council.

As well as being a local government representative, Lisa has worked as an enrolled nurse, is employed by a local mine, volunteers for community groups and is currently studying a Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Advanced), after completing a Bachelor in Psychological Sciences and is working towards a master’s in clinical psychology.

“I don’t consider myself a role model. I’m just an average person trying to balance life and make a positive future,” Lisa told The Courier.

Lisa’s life was further enriched in August this year when she and her partner welcomed an adorable baby boy, taking on her most treasured role as a mum to Hunter.

“I feel so lucky to have this opportunity so many don’t get, and I don’t take it for granted,” said Lisa.

“I was formally diagnosed with endometriosis several years ago, so an unexpected pregnancy with my age was something short of a miracle and very welcomed.”

Endometriosis occurs when body tissue, that is similar to the lining of the uterus, grows outside the uterus — every individual can experience different symptoms, and they can include inflammation, pain or impacts on fertility.

“During my pregnancy I was deemed high risk, and I also had a complication of two thrombosis (blood clots) in the brain.

“My pregnancy had a lot of extra medical appointments, most of which I had to travel for.

“A flexible role as an elected councillor and my work’s understanding made it just that little bit less stressful as I didn’t want to let myself, family, or community down.

“Our specialist teams were amazing, and I got to deliver a healthy boy, we named Hunter, in early August.”

Lisa agreed to share part of her story with The Courier community to inspire, empower and help others considering a leadership or representative role.

“These are my personal views and not the view of council, but I hope people reading the article understand it is possible to run for council whilst juggling life – it can be a bit hard at times but it’s worth it,” she said.

Lisa has consistently used her platform to promote diversity and encourage the involvement of more young local people, especially women, to ensure decision-makers reflect the community’s varying viewpoints.

“I ran for council when I wanted to have a community voice heard, a voice I thought was missing,” she said.

“This was only achieved through community votes, which meant others felt a voice was missing too.”

The 2021 local government elections in NSW delivered a record 39.5 per cent female representation, up from 31.2 per cent in the previous election.

The figures show there is still a way to go when it comes to achieving gender equity, but Associate Professor Tanya Jakimow from the College of Asia and the Pacific at The Australian National University said the “increased number of women elected to councils can be read as evidence of the success of a diversity strategy centred on encouraging and equipping women, and other under-¬represented groups, to stand for election”.

Following the last local government elections, Associate Professor Jakimow wrote a paper in 2022 looking at the ‘Roadblocks to diversity in local government in New South Wales’.

“Across Australia, much of local government continues to conform to the ‘male, pale and stale’ stereotype, with ‘white’ men overrepresented among elected councillors,” states the paper’s introduction.

“However, in the country’s most populous state, NSW, the results of local government elections in December 2021 give some hope that progress is being made in diversifying councils.

“There are no all-male councils, and women are a majority on a record 27.

“These improvements in gender equity can be seen as evidence of the success of the Office for Local Government’s ‘Stand for your Community – Diversity Counts’ campaign.”

Associate Professor Jakimow said “without detracting from the value of these initiatives, their capacity to achieve a councillor body reflective of the general population is limited. “

She said ‘people of non-European ancestry’ remain ‘grossly underrepresented’.

Local government is not the only sector trying to improve diversity, for example, women remain under-represented in all key decision-making roles across almost all industries in the Australian workforce, according to a report by The Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce.

The independent group was established in 2022 to provide advice to the government to support the advancement of women’s economic equality and achieve gender equality.

The phrase ‘You can’t be what you can’t see’ has been referenced repeatedly at International Women’s Day events highlighting the ‘visibility factor’ and importance of having women in roles of leadership and influence so other women, especially young females, can look up to them and have the confidence to pursue a similar path – if they desire – even if it’s in a typically male-dominated sector such as the science, technology, engineering and mathematical fields.

“’You can’t be what you can’t see’ is a similar one to a line I refer to in life which is ‘you don’t know what you don’t know’,” said Lisa when asked about the phrase.

“As humans we can’t know everything, but we can go to people who know certain topics and ask about different ideas and knowledge.

“Different people have different opinions, it doesn’t mean one person is right and one is wrong, both maybe right from their own perspective.

“I hope in 2023, parents and carers are supported in their current and future goals.

“Being a parent is a hard gig but given some flexibility and advocacy – personal and work goals can still be achieved.

“I encourage those who want to run for council to run, even with family and work balance.

“This role can be flexible, and it is up to the elected council and the individual how flexible this can be.

“For example, some current councillors sit on several committee groups and some sit on none.

“This is one of the things that can help an individual be a councillor alongside balancing work and personal life.”

In 2023, it’s certainly not ‘breaking news’ for a woman to be employed, running a business, or serving in a leadership role while raising a family.

Lisa is one of many parents, male and female, balancing the work and family life juggle but she understands sharing stories and tips can be a way of helping others through the highs and lows, especially in country areas where people can often feel isolated.

When it comes to the Narrabri Shire Council, the history books don’t appear to have a record of women who have had a baby while serving as a councillor. (The Courier welcomes community knowledge.)

However, it’s not believed there have been too many who have blazed the trail before Lisa and had a baby while serving on council.

“I would like to see Cr Redding and other female councillors get credit for the path they have already paved in our shire as change doesn’t happen overnight and these women have led the way,” added Lisa.

Describing the first two months of Hunter’s beautiful life as “a whirlwind of learning and enjoying time with family.”

More recently, Lisa said she has been “concentrating on catching up on things with council and my university studies, and thinking about different options on how I can juggle work life balances with an infant next year”.

Thanks to more flexible and family friendly policies at council, Lisa was able to attend an ordinary council meeting via audio-visual link just weeks after Hunter was born without having to leave her home in Boggabri and travel to the council chambers in Narrabri.

The timing of when to return to a workplace or representative duties is a personal decision for a parent or carer, but having a choice and options are important.

As a strong advocate for council adopting the audio-visual link option for meetings, Lisa has pushed for the change in policy arguing it would break down barriers for people living in regional areas, make it a more attractive job and potentially improve the diversity of representation.

“The use of technology should aid regional areas to show up for their communities and encourage women in the workforce who are juggling family obligations,” said Lisa during one of the council debates on AVL access.

“Whether due to family obligations, illness, or issues with travelling to a meeting because we live regionally, we can still have our voices heard and be there on behalf of our communities.”
During The Courier interview for this story, Lisa further explained why she thinks the option of audio-visual link access, in extraordinary circumstances, will benefit the wider community.

“Personally, I believe AVL can positively connect people especially when isolation would be the alternative,” she said.

“During Covid-19 the world changed and showed how much more was possible through AVL and gave new options to how we can conduct many aspects of our life post-pandemic.

“AVL was available during the pandemic and then it was up to individual councils to have it continue.

“There was a time it wasn’t available at NSC, but I thought the option of AVL was important not only for my circumstance of having a newborn but important for the community we represent to still have a voice (in the council chamber).

“My situation made me realise, as a community, we travel many kilometres for unforeseen things such as medical appointments, and accidents and then on a different hand we cannot travel due to things like a pandemic, a broken leg, a flood, or even accidents along the highway.

“This doesn’t mean our voice should be silenced if there are options available.

“AVL is one way to combat these issues and allows all our community to be represented.

“AVL is currently only available in extreme circumstances but who knows what the future will allow.”

Lisa stressed that “being a parent or carer isn’t limited just to women, we have some wonderful male role models who also need time off to care for family members.

“Audio-visual link is currently an option for extreme circumstances no matter your gender.

“It is a simple way to still have your voice heard and your vote counted when you cannot physically attend Narrabri Council Chamber but can virtually.

“It is one way that is breaking those barriers of time and distance.

“Personally, I want each community individual and group to have their voice heard at council.

“There is always room for improvement and change, and council is no different.

“I am the youngest councillor, which leaves almost two decades of ideas and vision we need to make sure are heard and listened to.

“Having a diverse council of different gender, age, culture, and experience is a key to making sure this occurs.”

When it comes to her own role models, Lisa said: “I have a new appreciation for parents and caregivers” following the birth of Hunter.

“From the outside, I never understood the ‘behind the scenes’ and the highs and lows these individuals go through.

“My partner is my rock; I would overthink and analyse most things if it weren’t for him.

“He also gives me the time to attend council meetings and liaise with community groups.

“There are so many women who inspire me on a daily basis.

“I have family and friends who are running businesses, who are in male dominated roles, who advocate for others and cheer on the success of everyone.

“These individuals range from business owners, truck drivers, farmers, power lifters, mechanics, actresses, directors, miners, parents, and to ladies supporting those around them.”

Lisa thanked her partner, family, colleagues, workplace, and community members for their support during her pregnancy and since Hunter’s arrival.

“I feel so lucky,” she added.

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