Blacktown City Council in New South Wales has elected Filipino-Australian Councillor Carol Israel as the new Deputy Mayor.
Blacktown City is the local government area in NSW with one of the largest Filipino descent communities: in the 2021 Census, 9.0 per cent of Blacktown residents (35,579 people) nominated Filipino ancestry. Notably, within Blacktown, Woodcroft recorded the highest proportion of people with Filipino ancestry – 27.0 per cent of its population.
Cr Israel, who lives in Woodcroft and represents Ward 3, was first elected to Council in 2016. She has since built a reputation as a strong advocate for fairness, good governance, and better community services across one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities.
“I am proud to serve the people of Blacktown City,” Cr Israel said. “This is a vibrant, diverse and growing city, and I will continue to work to help shape its future, ensuring we have the facilities, open spaces and opportunities that every resident needs.”
On her social media page, Cr Israel expressed gratitude for the support she has received:
“I’m absolutely blown away by all the love and support! 🥰 Thank you all so much for the amazing congratulatory messages and the incredibly kind words. I’m truly humbled and feeling so grateful right now. 😊 To have this opportunity to continue serving in the capacity of Deputy Mayor, is an absolute honor, and I can’t wait to get started. I’m so excited to see what we can achieve together, and I promise to give it my all!💪”
She also acknowledged and thanked fellow councillors Jess Diaz, Peter Camilleri, Allan Green, Pradeep Pathi, Mohit Kumar and JD Singh for nominating and supporting her for the Deputy Mayor role.
From retail worker to community leader
Born in the Philippines, Cr Israel migrated to Australia in 2001. Her first job was in retail, an experience that shaped her deep concern for the rights of working people. She later became a union organiser with the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA), where she fought for fair wages and job security for retail workers.
Her passion for justice and equality soon extended to local government. Since her election in 2016, she has taken leadership roles as Chair of both the Multicultural Advisory Committee and the Access Advisory Committee, championing diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.
Advocacy and community service
Beyond council chambers, Cr Israel has been a familiar face at community events and grassroots initiatives. She has helped organise local festivals, led Clean Up Australia Day activities, and raised funds for charities including the Cancer Council.
She also played a pivotal role in campaigning for accessibility upgrades at Doonside Station, joining residents and advocacy groups to push for better transport options for people with disabilities.
Recognition for women’s empowerment
Cr Israel’s dedication to women’s empowerment and community leadership was recognised in 2023 when she was included in the NSW Local Women of the Year Honour Roll. The recognition highlighted her advocacy for women in the workforce, her dedication to migrant communities, and her efforts to build fairer policies at the local level.
Looking ahead
As Deputy Mayor, Cr Israel will work closely with Mayor Brad Bunting in guiding Blacktown City, which is home to more than 425,000 residents in western Sydney, NSW.
Council also thanked outgoing Deputy Mayor Councillor Bob Fitzgerald for his service over the past year.
