The Australian Government is committed to supporting and promoting women’s leadership in every aspect of Australian society, including in regional and rural Australia.
The immense contribution of rural women to our economy and community is unquestionable. It is often women who have kept rural, regional and many urban communities and families together, particularly during times of drought and adversity. Unfortunately, rural women’s contributions too often go unrecognised and unrewarded.
On 27 and 28 June 2008, the Government convened a National Rural Women’s Summit in Canberra. The Summit gave effect to the Government’s election commitment to strengthen the voice of rural women in shaping rural and regional policy. The aim of the Summit was to renew relationships between the Government and women from country areas and give rural women the chance to engage in the big policy debates of our time.
The Summit brought together more than 80 delegates from around Australia, led by a steering group of representatives from key rural women’s groups. Participants comprised a diverse group of amazing women, from a cheese maker in Tasmania, to a wine maker from Margaret River, a sugar producer from Mackay and an Indigenous artist from Darwin. A full list of organisations represented at the Summit can be found at Appendix 1.
The Summit discussed a wide range of issues important to rural and regional women and their communities. The Summit identified issues in need of attention in the following areas:
representation of women in decision making;
- climate change, the environment and water;
- health;
- education;
- young people;
- infrastructure, transport and telecommunications;
- community building, engagement and new arrivals;
- vocational training, skills development and workforce participation;
- employment and business development;
- families and children;
- women with disabilities;
- culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) women; and
- Indigenous women.
The Government has been taking action across all these areas. In some areas, funding has already been allocated. In others, in line with the Government’s commitment to evidence-based policy making, reviews are in progress.
On behalf of the Government, I would like to thank the participants of the National Rural Women’s Summit for their contributions.
Tanya Plibersek
Minister for the Status of Women