This story is part of an ongoing series in the North Central Review aimed at showcasing and celebrating the people of our region. To nominate a worthy contributor to our region, email news@ncreview.com.au or send a message to our Facebook page.
By Grace Frost
Long before Fiona Stevens became Mitchell Shire Council Mayor, she had a ‘long, diverse and rewarding career’ with Victoria Police, and then became a councillor.
While working full time, Cr Stevens had to balance family commitments as a daughter, wife, mother, and more recently, as a grandmother.
Despite witnessing some progress, Cr Stevens said she still saw a need for embracing, promoting, and instilling fairness and equity for the ultimate goal of ‘true equality’.
Cr Stevens joined the police force in 1977, prior to the introduction of the Equal Opportunity Act, and served for 36 years.
Before equal opportunities, Cr Stevens had to wait until she was 20 years old to become an officer, unlike her male counterparts who could join when they were 18.5 years.
Policewomen were unable to wear slacks and had to wear a hat both in court and while patrolling, unlike policemen.
“Women were occasionally issued with a smaller firearm than the men but could only carry them in their handbags,” Cr Stevens said.
“Our uniforms didn’t cater to wearing them on our body and that was seen to be inappropriate at the time.”
When the Equal Opportunities Act was made into legislation in 1978, policewomen were able to transfer to general duties policing, which Cr Stevens said caused concern among many policemen.
“The men’s perception was that we were weaker, because we had a weaker physical strength, and that may then place them at a higher risk in a volatile situation,” she said.
“The truth is, we may not have had the same physical ability, but we had different skills we could call upon to de-escalate, contain or assist to mitigate potential risk.
“Reliance on just physical strength wasn’t and isn’t ever the best approach.”
For the majority of her career, Cr Stevens chose to work in crime prevention, investigating child abuse, sexual assault and family violence.
Cr Stevens was awarded the Jack Brockhoff Churchill Fellowship in 2003, which involved her studying in the United Kingdom for three months with several other police forces, investigating ways to improve police and stakeholder responses.
Upon her return, she made 14 recommendations to the Victoria Police Chief Commissioner, some of which were adopted into practice.
After leaving Victoria Police, Cr Stevens was elected as a Mitchell Shire councillor in 2016 and returned in 2020. She became deputy mayor in 2022.
Cr Stevens was voted mayor in November 2022, supported by deputy mayor Louise Bannister, which marked the first time in Mitchell Shire’s history women held both positions concurrently.
“I think it’s absolutely fantastic that we’ve both been acknowledged for our leadership capabilities,” Cr Stevens said.
“We weren’t voted in because of our gender, we were voted in because the councillors acknowledged our leadership abilities to perform those roles.”
Cr Stevens said she was pleased to have seen progress made toward achieving equality, but still felt there was work to be done.
“I personally feel there is still work to be done to get us all to the starting point as equals,” she said.
According to Equality and Human Rights Commission, ‘equality’ refers to ensuring that every individual has equal opportunity to make the most of their life.
‘Equity’, however, aims to achieve equality by first removing the ‘unfair, avoidable or remediable differences among groups of people’, according to the World Health Organisation.
“My gender has never been an issue to me, as far as I viewed the world. I’ve always, and I still to this day, argue that it should be the best person for the job, regardless of gender – it should be merit-based,” Cr Stevens said.
“In saying that, the difference has always been [that] you still have to have an equal starting point, and that’s what was missing.
“I have never been awarded any leadership position based on my gender, my achievements have been merit-based, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Cr Stevens said she would continue to encourage women who showed an interest in community affairs to become councillors, and welcomed those wanting more information to contact her at Cr.Fiona.Stevens@mitchellshire.vic.gov.au.
