Seven women have been named as finalists for this year’s AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award for their “positive influence in their industries and communities with their initiatives”.
The AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award aims to celebrate the inclusive and courageous leadership of rural women across Australia. For their inclusion as finalists, each of the seven female leaders will receive a $15,000 Westpac grant to help boost, expand or elevate their work, with the National Winner awarded an additional $20,000 and National Runner Up, an additional $15,000.
The finalists are:
- Kylie Jones, NT – founder of RAISE Education, a not-for-profit organisation that provides individualised learning support by fostering connection and belonging for geographically isolated children, home tutors and parents.
- Stephanie Trethewey, TAS – created Australia’s first personalised online rural mothers’ group, Motherland Village, which provides opportunities for rural mums across the country to find connection and support, regardless of their location.
- Kimberly Furness, VIC – founder of OAK Magazine, which spotlights female entrepreneurs and women in business across regional and rural Australia.
- Louise O’Neill, WA – entrepreneur behind Farm Life Fitness, which aims to overcome the constraints of long distances in rural areas to deliver one-on-one coaching and live online group fitness workouts.
- Josie Clarke, NSW – developed Ability Agriculture to raise awareness and provide opportunities for those with disabilities through the provision of an online platform and community on Facebook and Instagram that shares the stories of those with a disability in Agriculture.
- Robyn Verrall, SA -founder of Kere to Country, an Aboriginal owned-and-operated food supply company bringing high quality and affordable meat into First Nations communities in South Australia and the Northern Territory.
- Rebecca Bradshaw, QLD – established the first private, child health nurse-led service to be delivered online in Queensland. Through the Award, she hopes to expand the reach of her service to more rural communities.
AgriFutures Australia Managing Director, John Harvey says he’s thrilled with the diverse and innovative projects that were submitted this year.
“It’s an exciting year for the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award with our seven national finalists already making such a positive influence in their industries and communities with their initiatives,” Harvey said. “We’re excited to provide these women with a platform to not only build on their leadership skills to drive change in rural and regional Australia, but also inspire and support other women whilst doing so.”
The finalists will represent their respective state or territory at the 2022 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award Gala Dinner and National Announcement on Tuesday 6 September 2022 at the Great Hall in Parliament House, where the National Winner and National Runner Up will be announced.
