Two Wagga women are forging a caucus to hold policy makers accountable

Patron of the Wagga women's health centre Jan Roberts and its current President Jenny Rolfe-Wallace say they want to see women considered in all decision making, not just for issues that effect women predominantly.

The passion, or more so frustration, behind the idea has only grown in the wake of the city's recent government elections which will continue to see council dominated by men.

Ms Rolfe-Wallace said that even men are narrowly represented when you look at the demographic of candidates almost certain to win a sit at the table.

"There is a difference between representing and being representative," she said.

"That's why it's so important that they listen to the diverse voices in the community, and that's part of what the women's caucus is really about."

Ms Rolfe-Wallace said that rather than only consulting particular groups or issues that effect them on a surface level, all members of the community should be respectfully represented in policy making.

"We're actually active consumers, we're business owners, we are everybody in the community," she said.

"So every issue, development application, everything that goes before council needs to be considered from the perspective of the impact on women."

Ms Roberts said democracy is an ongoing process and that advocating for change does not have to end at the polls.

"It's up to us to continue to put our viewpoint forward," she said.

"We need to look to bring hope, and support and encouragement, those sorts of things, because there's not much of that around at present."

The caucus remains in its formative stages.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: