Deadline: November 07, 2025
The AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award is Australia’s leading award empowering and celebrating the inclusive and courageous leadership of women involved in Australia’s rural and emerging industries, businesses, and communities, now and into the future.
The focus is on empowering and celebrating the inclusive and courageous leadership of women involved in Australia’s rural and emerging industries, businesses, and communities, now and into the future.
Applications for the 2026 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award open on Wednesday, 10 September 2025, and close on Friday, 7 November 2025, with Northern Territory applications closing later on Friday, 30 January 2026. The award is backed by Westpac as the platinum sponsor, providing significant grant funding and professional development benefits to state and territory winners.
Each State or Territory Winner will receive a $15,000 Westpac grant to support a project, business, or program that benefits rural industries, businesses, and communities. The funding can be used for leadership and business training, overseas study tours, business planning, pilot programs, educational or promotional campaigns, networking opportunities, training development, information technology initiatives, business innovations, or publishing books.
At the national level, the National Winner will receive an additional $20,000 grant, while the National Runner-Up will be awarded an additional $15,000, extending the opportunities for project and leadership development as well as supporting national commitments such as speaking engagements.
In addition to the grant funding, State and Territory Winners will benefit from a learning and development course of choice worth up to $7,500, media training valued at $2,000, a four-day professional development workshop valued at $2,500, biographies written by professional copywriters valued at $1,000, and access to a wellbeing program worth $2,500. Winners will also receive a professional photo shoot and videography package for the Gala Dinner and National Announcement valued at $11,000, access to the Rural Women’s Award Alumni Network of over 450 members, and guaranteed national publicity worth more than $5,000 through podcasts, radio, print, and digital media.
The award experience includes travel and accommodation to key events such as the 2026 Finalists Workshop in July and the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award Gala Dinner and National Announcement in September. Overall, the value of the benefits provided to each winner is $35,500, significantly boosting visibility, leadership growth, and industry impact.
For more information, visit AgriFutures.
