25 May 2009
DAFF09/260B
The Rudd Government has announced more than $1 million to help even more women take on leadership roles in rural and regional Australia, following significant progress in the last 18 months.
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke announced the funding under the Recognising Women Farmers initiative, while attending the Australian RIRDC Rural Women’s Award 2009 in Parliament House, Canberra.
He said in 18 months the Rudd Government had increased the representation of women on our rural research and development corporation boards from 20% to 43%, but there was much more work to do.
“Women across the country are determined to help lead their communities through future challenges, including climate change,” Mr Burke said.
“The Department has always provided support for conferences and a range of gatherings.
“But the way in which funding was previously provided meant the overwhelming majority went to conferences where most attendees were male.
“This funding will help to correct the balance by funding events which develop technical and leadership skills and strengthen industry networks or by funding projects looking at the social impacts of climate change and other areas.
“More than 52,000 women defined themselves as farmers or farm managers, contributing an estimated $1.1 billion a year to farm viability.
“Yet women still occupy less than 20% of paid management and board positions in the agricultural sector – something the Government is determined to change.”
The first 29 Recognising Women Farmers projects cover women in a wide range of industries, including seafood, cherries, horticulture, grains, sugar, agritourism, dairy and cattle.
Other projects include supporting women dealing with mental stress, illness or suicide in farming families and work carried out by Landcare and natural resource management groups.
Mr Burke also congratulated RIRDC on marking ten years of the Rural Women’s Award at tonight’s event and congratulated all the past and current winners.
He also announced $50,000 for a new mentoring project for women living in rural and remote areas, to be coordinated through the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.
The project will have strong links with the RIRDC Rural Women’s Awards and will further help to strengthen leadership skills across a wide range of primary industries.
FIRST RECOGNISING WOMEN FARMERS GRANTS
NATIONAL
Up to $50,050 – Developing Opportunities for Women in the Cherry Industry – Cherry Growers of Australia Inc (South Australia)
This project will establish an Australian Network of Women within the cherry industry, educate women and encourage active participation at the industry's highest levels.
Up to $50,000 – Women's Leadership Capacity in Relation to Climate Change – Monash University Inc (Victoria)
This project examines how climate change impacts on rural women and will convene a national forum of rural women leaders to identify relevant requirements for developmental capacity.
Up to $37,600 – Seafood Industry: Priority Issues for Rural, Regional and Remote Women – Women’s Industry Network Seafood Community Inc (Queensland)
This project aims to identify the priority issues for women in the seafood industry and to inform the relevant agencies of those issues.
Up to $50,000 – Australian Agricultural Women Leading the Way – Australian Women in Agriculture Ltd (South Australia)
The project will target rural women involved in primary industries, focusing on building leadership, representative capacity and decision-making skills.
QUEENSLAND
Up to $49,600 – Influencing Policy and Building Leadership Capacities of Rural Women Leaders – Condamine Catchment Natural Resource Management Corporation Ltd
This project aims to build representative capacity and decision-making skills to deliver significant input into local, state, national and international agendas on climate change.
Up to $55,000 – Social and Emotional Wellbeing Network – Rural and Remote Mental Health Queensland Ltd
This project will facilitate the development of a Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) network with a view to developing leadership skills in women in remote centres to reduce mental stress, illness, breakdown and suicide among farming families.
Up to $49,221 – Horticultural Hubs – Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Growers Inc
The program aims to establish, broaden and enhance networks between women while establishing centres of information, communication, reliance and influence.
Up to $54,120 – Confidence to Connect Strategy – Partners in Grain (NSW, Vic, Tas) Inc
This project involves the development of a regionally-based strategy to develop qualities such as resilience and confidence in women in the grain industry.
Up to $49,500 – Promoting and Supporting Women in the Sugar Industry – Queensland Cane Growers Organisation Ltd
This project will develop the skills of women aspiring to leadership roles within the sugar industry through sharing knowledge, accessing planning tools, resources and skills development opportunities, and strengthening existing networks.
Up to $49,910 – Climate Leaders Workshops and State Conference – Queensland Rural Women's Network Inc
This project focuses on networking, innovations, working with government and industry, adding value to agriculture, and representation and advocacy skills.
Up to $49,400 – Changing Climate: Empowering Women in Rural Industries Conference – North East Downs Landcare Group Inc
This project addresses the implications of climate change for rural women and examines innovative ways to leverage from the changes associated.
NEW SOUTH WALES
Up to $48,700 – Voices in Agriculture – Women's Industry Network-Cotton Inc
This project aims to develop a community-based leadership and change management program to encourage women to take on leadership roles in their own communities.
Up to $42,300 – Women in Decision Making on Boards and Committees – Women in Irrigation Network
This project identifies barriers to women's participation in boards and committees, develops barrier-breaking strategies and teaches women to use objective decision-making and research skills.
Up to $48,000 – Women in Agritourism Program – The Long Paddock, Cobb Highway Touring Route
This project will encourage women to identify diversification options on their property that will connect them to tourism opportunities.
Up to $49,282 – Women of the Land: Leading Generational Change Interactive Workshops – ProAGtive Pty Ltd
This project addresses topics such as women's role in the family farm business, women leading change, understanding dynamics of succession and succession strategies and working in multi-generational business.
VICTORIA
Up to $50,000 – Women Leading Change Forums – Loddon Murray Community Leadership Program Inc
This project facilitates sharing of knowledge and experiences by women in the primary industry sector via the development of online networks, leadership and management skills and governance and industry decision-making skills.
Up to $24,035 – Leadership Development Workshop – Victorian Farmers Federation Inc
This project provides women with information on current structures of governing organisations in agriculture and assists in the development of skills to achieve desired roles in governing organisations.
Up to $55,000 – North East Victoria Rural Women's Leadership Development Program – Australian Alpine Valleys Agribusiness Forum Inc
This project addresses leadership development to encourage rural women to lead themselves and their communities through periods of change.
Up to $43,241 – Climate Change Road Show – Birchip Cropping Group Inc
This project engages women from across the grains and mixed farming sectors and focuses on issues such as science and projections, mitigation, carbon and farm viability.
Up to $55,000 – Women Leading Farming Futures and Landcare – Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority
This project provides rural women with peer support, interactive learning opportunities and access to expert information on change management, decision-making, communication and public speaking.
Up to $47,800 – Women in Dairy National Gathering – Genetics Australia Pty Ltd
This project will facilitate a national gathering focusing on network building in the dairy industry, supporting current and emerging women dairy farmer leaders and building capacity to manage change and increase productivity.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Up to $17,451 – Growing Potential – Facey Group Inc
This project provides women with the skills and confidence to take action in tackling the rapid changes occurring in their communities, environment, industries, services and workplaces.
Up to $9,768 – Women's Workshops – Mingenew-Irwin Group Inc
This project will encourage women to become leaders by focusing on skills such as effective communication, lobbying and advocacy, negotiation and conflict resolution.
Up to $4,050 – Lipstick in the Limelight: Empowering Rural Women – Wagin Woodanilling Landcare Zone Inc
This project establishes a forum for local women to develop skills in event organisation.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Up to $52,250 – Women's Capacity: Mental Toughness for Greatness workshop series – Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association Inc
This project is aimed at developing leadership and personal skills of women associated with the cattle industry in the Northern Territory.
TASMANIA
Up to $20,000 – A New Climate: Rural Women Leading Change – Tasmanian Women in Agriculture Inc
Women will facilitate the delivery of a forum event and research project by developing the project and managing outputs.
Up to $47,500 – Make it to Market – University of Tasmania, Institute for Regional Development Inc
The project partners with local Farmers Markets to facilitate learning, networking and knowledge-sharing agricultural activities for local women farmers.