Rural Women's Award applications open

Rural women wanting to take their leadership and contribution to primary industries to the next level are encouraged to apply for the 2012 RIRDC Rural Women’s Award. Applications are now open and rural women are encouraged to enter themselves or to nominate someone they think is ready to take the next step in their leadership journey. The RIRDC Rural Women’s Award is Australia’s pre-eminent Award for rural women. The Award supports women with demonstrated leadership capabilities who have the desire and commitment to make an even greater contribution to their industries and communities. The Award identifies and supports emerging leaders and change agents, who have the capability and resources to drive innovation, productivity and sustainability within primary industries and build economic and social capacity within rural communities. State and Territory winners will receive a $10,000 financial bursary to implement their Award vision and State and Territory winners AND runners up will have the opportunity to undertake the AICD Company Directors Course and be supported with 12 months of facilitated individual strategic leadership support. The Award is open to all women involved in primary industries, including broad-acre farming, intensive livestock, cropping, horticulture, fisheries, forestry, new and emerging plant and animal enterprises, indigenous rural enterprises, natural resource management and related service industries. The Award is an initiative of the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, in partnership with the state and territory agencies responsible for agriculture, primary industries and resources. Applications can be also downloaded and submitted online from the http://www.rirdc.gov.au[RIRDC website]. Applications close on 15 October 2011 – Rural Women’s Day.