CFAs: AgriFutures Australia Rural Women’s Award

Over the past 21 years, the Award has gained a significant profile, and is recognised as a program of influence among parliamentarians, industry, media and Award alumni.

Funding Information

• The $15,000 Westpac grant is awarded to each State/Territory Winner, providing the financial resources to support a project, business or program that will benefit rural industries, businesses and/or communities.
• The National Winner will be awarded an additional $20,000 Westpac grant and National Runner Up, an additional $15,000. These additional funds can be used for the abovementioned activities, plus may also be used to assist in meeting national commitments such as speaking engagements as the National Winner or Runner Up.

Additional Benefits for State/Territory Winners

• Learning and Development course of choice worth up to $7,500
• Access to the Rural Women’s Award Alumni Network with membership of over 450
• Media training valued at $2,000
• Four-day workshop to focus on further professional development skills valued at $2,500
• Long and short biographies written by professional copy writers valued at $1,000
• Access to a Wellbeing Program valued at $2,500
• Professional photo shoot valued at $1,000
• Professional videography created for the Rural Women’s Award Gala Dinner and National Announcement which is available for use after the awards, valued at $10,000
• Guaranteed national publicity, brand awareness and increased visibility for your project including podcasts, print, radio and digital (achieved via an external PR company)
• Travel and accommodation associated with the engagements worth over $5,000
  • 2025 Finalists Workshop in July
  • 2025 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award Gala Dinner and National Announcement in September
  • 2026 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award Gala Dinner and National Announcement in September as an announcer

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants are required to have an existing project, business or program which is already live/up and running OR will be launching within three months of completing this application.
• The existing project, business or program needs to fit into at least one of the following categories: Community, Collaboration or Commercial.
• The existing project, business or program must align to a minimum of two of the values of the Award:
  • Empathetic
  • Authentic
  • Cooperative
  • Confident
  • Courageous
  • Grit
  • Resourceful
  • Pragmatic
  • Clarity of Purpose
  • Inclusive
  • Innovative
• Applicants must identify as female.
• Applicants must be over the age of 18.
• Applicants need to be Australian citizens or permanent residents.
• Location is no barrier. If you are creating impact, innovating and making a difference and/or contributing to enhancing the prosperity of rural industries and regional Australia, then they want to hear from you.
• 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.
• No formal qualifications are required.

For more information, visit AgriFutures Australia.