Rural Women’s Network

Applications for the 2025/2026 Leadership and Mentoring Program are now open

Applications are now open for Agriculture Victoria’s Rural Women’s Network flagship Leadership and Mentoring Program, closing at 11.59pm on the 1 February 2026. The opening of this influential Program, designed to be delivered as residential immersive sessions, marks a significant step in empowering female leaders across agriculture. If you live in regional (including peri-urban fringe) and rural Victoria and work across the agriculture sector and supply chain, we encourage you to apply.

Women living in regional and rural areas can encounter financial barriers which prevent participation in leadership programs. That’s why all study and accommodation costs will be covered for successful participants to undertake the Program. We will also provide financial assistance for childcare and travel.

Guidelines have been developed to provide key information on the Program and to support your application. The guidelines are available to download [MS Word Document - 5.5 MB].

Participants will attend compulsory in person events, comprising two residential sessions of three days each. The first residential will be ran on the week beginning 3 March 2026 and the week beginning 11 May 2026.

More details of the venues and final dates will be published here shortly.

A final workshop day and in-person graduation ceremony will be held in the Melbourne CBD on 27 May 2026.

The initiative addresses underrepresentation of women in agricultural leadership roles by providing targeted support, mentorship, and networking opportunities. The Program will develop the skills and confidence to participate in leadership and decision making, both in agriculture and the broader community.

Leadership can take many forms and is not always underpinned by gaining ‘positions of authority’. Many women exhibit leadership qualities in quiet, often unrecognised ways – they may not even see themselves as leaders. We want these women to apply for the Program as well.

Agriculture Victoria welcomes and encourages applications from women of all abilities, sexualities, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and ages who have experience in the Victorian agriculture sector or agriculture supply chain.

If you have any questions relating to the Program or if you require assistance with your application, please contact the Rural Women’s Network Program Coordinator by email: vrwnetwork@agriculture.vic.gov.au or mobile on 0421 405 999.

AgriFutures Australia Rural Women’s Award and Acceleration Grant

The Rural Women's Network and Agriculture Victoria work in partnership with AgriFutures Australia to provide two opportunities to women involved in Australia’s rural and emerging industries, businesses, and communities, now and into the future.

Applications for the 2025 Rural Women’s Award and Acceleration Grant are now closed.

The national winner will be announced at a gala event in Canberra on 9 September 2025.

About the Rural Women’s Award

Empowering and celebrating the inclusive and courageous leadership of women, the Rural Women's Award supports women-led projects, businesses or programs that will benefit rural industries, businesses and / or communities.

Winners in each state / territory receive a $15,000 Westpac Grant to grow the impact of their initiative, as well as training, development, and a national profile to showcase it. They will also compete for the National Award and a further $20,000 from Westpac. For more information visit the AgriFutures website.

Victorian Grace Larson was announced the 2024 Rural Women’s Award National Runners up in September 2024. For more information on the Program visit the 2024 Victorian State Finalists page .

About the Acceleration Grant

Fostering the professional growth of rural women who are not quite ready to apply for the Award, the Acceleration Grant provides seven Australian women with a learning and development bursary to develop an initiative in its early stages.

Each year, 7 Australian women will be provided with a learning and development bursary of up to $7,000 for professional development to enable them to bring their idea, cause or vision to life. For more information visit the AgriFutures website.

Subscribe to the Rural Women’s Network newsletter for program updates.

About the Victorian Rural Women’s Network

The Victorian Rural Women’s Network (the Network) was originally established in 1986 to better recognise the contributions of rural women and build stronger links to government. Since its establishment, the Network has been a forum for women to share skills, resources and information for collective benefit.

Key programs and priorities of the Network have changed over time as the needs of rural women have evolved. Today, activities are focused on improving workforce participation, growing job opportunities, and supporting more women in leadership and decision-making roles in rural and regional Victoria.

Aligning with the Victorian Government's gender equity policies and strategies, the Network encourages women to have an active voice in industry, community and government leadership and decision-making.

The Network delivers a range of programs, workshops and digital communications to connect women to development and training opportunities, grants and resources, and other valuable information from across the Victorian Government and our network of partners.

The Rural Women’s Network is an Agriculture Victoria program and part of the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).

Read more about the first Rural Women’s Network and the Victorian Government’s 2017 announcement.

Subscribe to the Rural Women’s Network

In addition to the programs above, the Network delivers a range of workshops and digital communications to connect women to development and training opportunities, grants and resources, and other valuable information from across the Victorian Government and our network of partners.

Our regular e-newsletter helps subscribers feel supported and informed so they can thrive and excel in their businesses and communities. It is free to subscribe and keeps rural women informed of:

• inspiring stories from rural women from across Victoria
• upcoming programs, training and events
• grant opportunities from across the Victorian Government
• opportunities for scholarships or other supports
• publications and resources
• links to other useful services from partners.

Subscribe to the Rural Women’s Network newsletter here.

Your details will not be used for any other purpose or provided to any third party. See our privacy policy.

More information

• Visit the Victorian Rural Women's Network website
• Like us on Facebook @VRWNetwork
• Follow us on Twitter @VRWNetwork

If you have any queries, please contact the Network Team at vrwnetwork@agriculture.vic.gov.au