RIRDC Rural Women's Award

Funder: Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation

Program summary

The RIRDC Rural Women's Award is designed to recognise, but more importantly encourage the vital contribution women make to rural Australia. The Award began in 2000 with the objective of increasing women's capacity to contribute to agriculture and rural Australia, by providing them with the support and resources to further develop their skills and abilities. While the Award acknowledges past achievement, it is clearly focused on supporting women with strong leadership skills, a positive vision for the future of agriculture and the potential to make a difference in their chosen field.

The Award provides a Bursary of $10,000 for each of the seven State and Territory winners and the opportunity for the winner AND runner up in each State and Territory to attend the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course. The Award also provides the opportunity for one of the seven State and Territory winners to be selected as the RIRDC Rural Women's Award Australian winner to represent the Award and RIRDC.

In addition, this years NSW winner will also receive a Women in Business Mentor Package valued at $1500 provided by the NSW Department of State and Regional Development. The Mentor Package includes a half day face-to-face mentoring session with Linda Hailey, one of Australia's leading small business consultants, at your home or business and two follow-up consultations via telephone. The NSW runner-up will receive three vouchers valued at $50 each for their choice of small business training sessions via their closest Business Advisory Service.

Key dates

Applications close 15 October 2007

Nominations open 1 August for a period of eleven weeks and close on 15 October

Who can apply?

The Award is open to all women involved in agriculture, including forestry, fisheries, natural resource management and related service industries. No formal qualifications are required to enter the Award.

Rural women of all ages and all walks of life are encouraged to apply for the 2007 Award including younger women and indigenous women.
What will be funded?

The Bursary provides $10,000 for each State and Territory winner to help women achieve their vision for their industry and in doing so, enhance their skills and capacity to contribute to agriculture and natural resource management and to rural Australia.

Applicants will need to demonstrate how the Bursary will assist in fulfilling their personal vision for their industry and in turn how it will benefit them, their industry and Australian agriculture generally.

The Bursary may be used for activities that build upon the applicant's leadership, management and business skills. Eligible activities may include but not limited to:

• overseas and domestic study tours for the purpose of market research and product development;
• formal training in a variety fields from leadership or business management programs, to quality assurance and product development and diversification programs;
• the development of publications, educational campaigns and information technologies.

What will NOT be funded?

The Bursary cannot be used for further education such as Masters or Doctorate Degrees or for the purchase of capital equipment.

How much funding is available?

$10,000 for each of 7 state and territory winners

More information

http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au/rwn/rirdc-about-the-award.htm

Contact

Ms Allison Priest
Department of Primary Industries
Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation
Postal Address: Locked Bag 21 Orange NSW 2800
Phone: 02 6391 3620
Email: allison.priest@dpi.nsw.gov.au