AgriFutures Australia is proud to champion diversity through our agricultural grants for women.
In addition to our AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award, we have created the Rural Women’s Acceleration Grant, developed to foster the professional growth of rural women in emerging industries.
By providing seven Australian women with a learning and development bursary, we can enable them to bring their idea, cause or vision to life, and drive innovation in agriculture.
About the Grant
AgriFutures has introduced a new program called the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Acceleration Grant program. It will run separately, however it will complement the Rural Women’s Award process, aiming to provide a leadership and development opportunity to women who are not quite ready to apply for the Award.
Seven Australian women per annum will be granted with a learning and development bursary (not cash) of up to $7,000 for professional development to enable them to bring their idea, cause or vision to life.
The Rural Women’s Acceleration Grant is one of many AgriFutures Australia initiatives ensuring our rural industries prosper now, and into the future.
The Application Process
Applications for the 2023 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Acceleration Grant are currently closed and will reopen in September 2023.
Who Can Apply
- Applicants need to be over 18 years old and identify as female.
- Applicants must have an idea, cause or vision (not yet realised) which aligns with one or more of three categories: Community, Collaboration, Commercial.
- Idea, cause or vision will have a positive impact on rural or emerging industries, businesses and/or communities.
- RWA State/Territory Winners, National Winners and Runner-Ups are ineligible to apply for the grant, however all other RWA Alumni (State Finalists) are eligible to apply.
- Applicants need to be Australian citizens or permanent residents.
- Applicants must not be a Related Party of AgriFutures Australia (i.e., not an employee of AgriFutures Australia, or a member of the key management personnel of major sponsors and government agency partners, nor a close family member of the above.
- Applicants must not be a previous National or State/Territory Winner of either the former ABC Radio Rural Woman of the Year, RIRDC Rural Women’s Award, or AgriFutures Rural
- Women’s Award – however previous State/Territory Finalists are encouraged to re-apply.)
- No formal qualifications are required.
The idea, cause or vision must align to a minimum of two of the values below:
- Empathetic
- Authentic
- Cooperative
- Confident
- Courageous
- Grit
- Resourceful
- Pragmatic
- Clarity of Purpose
- Inclusive
- Innovative
2023 Cohort
Alice Bennett (Crystal Brook, SA), Thea Walker (Jardee, WA), Nadine Holgate (Kialla, VIC), Emma Goodall (Clunes, VIC), Leanne Kruss (Dimbulah, QLD), Kate Webster (Muttama, NSW) and Sara McCarthy (Narromine, NSW) were announced as recipients of the inaugural AgriFutures Rural Women’s Acceleration Grant.