"They're pissed off, they're passionate or they're political," says the chief executive of Women For Election Australia.

What ever it is that might motivate a woman to stand up and be counted as a candidate, Ms Heath knows we need more of them at every level of government. Across the country, NSW is the state with the fewest number of female councillors.

Ms Heath says we need more women at the table where decisions are being made.

That's why Women for Election Australia, in conjunction with the State Government, is conducting seven workshops across NSW to equip and inspire women to run for the September 2021 local government elections.

Ms Heath and her co-presenter, author and trainer Ruth McGowan, will run a free workshop at Albury on Saturday, May 8.

The non-partisan workshops aim to remove the mystery of standing and provide women with practical knowledge, tools and techniques to help get them elected, to be the best candidate possible and how to assist other women with their campaigns.

"It's designed to make an opaque process more transparent," Ms Heath says.

"We provide an A to Z of how to run a campaign; it includes information about what financial and time commitments might be required, how to engage with the media and use social media to enhance your campaign and a skills audit.

"We even have a session on 'Would you pre-select yourself?'"

There are so many women in local communities who already possess the skills and attributes "we want in those chambers", Ms Heath says.

"We want women who are doing amazing things in the community every day and they're probably already doing nine-tenths of what a councillor does."

From running school P&Cs, to building local businesses, overseeing sports committees and community fundraising campaigns to co-ordinating drought and bushfire relief efforts, women are already using leadership skills that are "highly transferable" to local government.

"We all know them," Ms Heath insists.

"Yet if you tapped one of these women on the shoulder and asked them to run for council, they'd say 'No way' but they're already doing it.

"It's about linking purpose to parliament."

Certainly Albury's council chambers could do with a few more women and a "lot more diversity", declares outgoing deputy mayor Amanda Cohn.

The Gateway Health GP, who was the first Greens candidate and youngest woman to be elected to the council in 2016, urges women contemplating the idea of standing to "give it a crack".

"If you don't put up your hand, you can't get elected," she says.

"Even (just the experience of) being a candidate can help raise issues you care about in the community.

"There are loads of women who have the skills and knowledge to be a great councillor but might not have the confidence.

"I think this workshop, which is politically neutral, will certainly be of value if you are going through the process for the first time."

In her nearly five years in local government, Dr Cohn says she has been exposed to "the absolute best and absolute worst of the community".

She recently spoke extensively to The Border Mail about about her challenges and achievements during her time with Albury Council.

She insists we have to continue to question and change the perception of what a councillor - or indeed deputy mayor - looks like.

"There's still the stereotype of a councillor being an older, white male and statistics show that's what it's typically been," Dr Cohn says.

"The only way to change that is to have more diversity; to bring in people with new perspectives.

"Not only do we need more women, we need more young people, more First Nations people, and more culturally linguistically diverse people ...

"Scientific studies show the best quality decisions are made by a diverse group of people."

And while Dr Cohn admits being a councillor is a huge workload - "I won't sugar coat it" - she will come away very proud to have made a real difference in her community.

Women for Election Australia (WFEA), founded in 2014 to increase the number of women successfully running for elected office in Australia, says its vision is to foster "strong, diverse and gender-balanced governments, that are truly reflective of the people they serve".

"If you have a homogenous group of people - like white males aged 60 to 66 - then you get homogenous outcomes," Ms Heath says.

"(And) councils like that still exist."

In the World Economic Forum's Gender Index ranking for women's political empowerment, Australia fell from 15th in 2006 to 49th in 2020.

But the tide is turning.

There is an awakening, according to Ms Heath, particularly in light of the recent rape and sexual misconduct allegations clouding the hallowed hallways of federal parliament.

"Something has changed," she muses.

"And yet nothing has really changed in politics that wasn't happening one year ago, 5 years ago or even 10 years ago.

"It's just the public is on to it now and they're not looking away."

Far from deterring women from entering the fray, the anecdotal evidence is quite the opposite.

Ms Heath has had to lift the registration cap of 30 on her recent workshops at Sydney, Goulburn and Lismore and while numbers are still relatively low for Albury, she's hopeful they will come.

"(It's like) there's been a reckoning that the only way things are going to get better in government is if I get involved," she says of the incredible women coming out of the woodwork.

Trust has a lot to do with it.

WFEA reports that only 25 per cent of Australians believe people in government can be trusted.

"Women councillors typically are more visible in their community and hold more constituent meetings," Ms Heath reports.

"It's been shown (globally) more women on councils equal less corruption.

"All of that helps foster trust in the community."

But how do we get women past the barriers that might prevent them standing?

Ms Heath talks about tackling the five 'C's:

Ms Heath is passionate about breaking down those barriers and helping women get elected - because that way everybody wins:

"Our mission is to inspire women, of all backgrounds and lived experience, to stand for public office, equip them to get elected - and support them to thrive when they get there."

Women are under-represented at every level of government in Australia: