The AgriFutures™ Rural Women’s Award is Australia’s leading award in acknowledging and supporting the essential role women play in rural and regional businesses, industries and communities. Nominations for the 2020 award open today.
A Darwin local and employee of the Department of Primary Industry and Resources, Ms Malone was one of seven finalists from across Australia in the running for the award bursary to further progress her winning project.
Passionate about the role people and communities play in creating strong and vibrant regions, Ms Malone has spent most of her life living in rural and regional Australia, with over a decade spent in the Northern Territory.
“My personal and professional experiences have led me to recognise that many grassroots community groups struggle to keep up with increasing governance and accountability demands,” Ms Malone said.
“This leads to more pressure being placed on volunteers, and people being put off getting involved at all.
“My project, the Village Green, will make it easier for volunteers and community groups to navigate their way through compliance and governance demands.”
Ms Malone was awarded a $10,000 bursary after taking out the Northern Territory award earlier this year.
In bringing her project to life, Ms Malone is using her Westpac bursary to connect with a diverse range of community groups and volunteers to understand their needs, with plans to develop an online toolkit.
The toolkit will provide a platform that can be used by diverse groups to identify governance priorities and connect to useful resources that are freely available online.
Ms Malone also plans to engage with governance experts to refine the resources and test the toolkit with community groups to ensure it provides practical benefits.
Until the end of September, Ms Malone is looking for feedback from volunteers and community groups on their biggest challenges to help inform the project. To find out more about the project or to fill in the survey visit www.village-green.net.
“This project is a passion of mine, and it just wouldn’t have been possible without the support of AgriFutures and Westpac through these awards.
“It has been an amazing experience and connected me to passionate women who are doing amazing things right across regional Australia and our primary industries.
“I would definitely encourage people to nominate for the awards in 2020.”
Nominations for the 2020 AgriFutures™ Rural Women’s Award open today and Territory women have until 26 January 2020 to apply.
If you’re a woman who has an innovative idea that could empower others and Australia’s rural industries, the AgriFutures™ Rural Women’s Award is for you.
The award is open to all women over the age of 18 involved in rural industries (agriculture, forestry and fisheries), rural and regional businesses and rural and regional communities. No formal qualifications are required and location is no barrier.
Each state/territory winner is awarded a $10,000 bursary from Westpac, with the national winner receiving an additional $10,000 and the runner-up $5,000.
In addition to the Westpac bursary, state and territory winners gain access to professional development opportunities and alumni networks.
Visit the AgriFutures™ website to find out more about the award and how to nominate.
Media contact
Jess O’Reilly | 08 8999 2098