We know such diversity is the reality of our multicultural society of today.

One of they key benefits of making sure our councils, our health boards, our plethora of community organisations have a diversity of views is being able to get done what truly has to be done.

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When a local government decision, for example, goes against the grain for people in that community, it can be for what it considers to be a valid reason.

But that validity can easily come into question when you look at the make-up of the council.

For as much as someone can be open to divergent views, it's always going to be better to actually have that different view on board in the decision-making process.

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To take that concept even further, anyone from any background should consider seeking office as a councillor, for example, a natural step.

The faces on our councils have certainly changed in the past few decades, but older, white men still dominate.

In the 1990s, Albury Council had several women on board, including stalwart Patricia Gould, Lynda Summers, Amanda Duncan-Strelec and the late Vivien Voss.

But this still fell short of the male-female balance in the wider world; though, to take that further, neither has there been a move towards a greater diversity of cultural backgrounds.

The point has to be made that this is not because local government necessarily has an issue with lots of different faces around the table.

The key to such change is actually getting people involved; in making women aware, for example, that their voice is just as important and deserves to be heard.

It is why the Women for Election Australia group is running a series of workshops - including in Albury - to give women the tools they need to achieve such a goal.

Talented, experienced women are everywhere in our community; they just need assistance that in turn will give them the confidence to put their hands up.

If they don't, our democracy suffers.

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