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National Rural Women’s Network Goes International

February 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment

New YorkThe National Rural Women’s Coalition (NRWC) has been invited to demonstrate the national and international potential of its new National Rural Women’s Network™ at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York on March 2nd.

A live webinar will link women from all over the world to the meeting. Entitled “Networking Rural Women” the event will demonstrate how the virtual rural women’s network operates and the power of that Network to not only link women farmers and rural women in Australia but potentially women all over the world.

What is CSW?

The Commission on the Status of Women

The Commission on the Status of Women

The Commission on the Status of Women is one of the nine functional committees of the UN Economic and Social council …this year the key focus is on Rural Women, specifically The empowerment of Rural Women and their role in poverty and hunger eradication, development and current challenges.

The Australian government will participate in discussions in New York and then be expected to implement recommendations made at CSW. There will be two other events at CSW.

Networking Rural Women: Program

Time  Activity 2nd March 10.30am (New York)
10.30am Welcome by the Australian Minister for Women, the Hon Julie Collins
10.40am Welcome by Clr Darriea Turley, President of the National Rural Women’s Coalition
10.45am Comments from afar: women participating virtually will be invited to respond to the question: what does being a rural woman mean to me?
11:00am Overview of the National Rural Women’s Network  and demonstrations of  the Network programs including e learning, Family Violence Prevention and Disaster planning.
11:30am Questions and discussions – questions from the floor to the panel or to women online
12:00pm Close
Filed Under: Conferences, Consultaions, Events Tagged With:

Call for speakers, presenters and projects – 2012 Regional Arts Australia National Conference

December 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

From 18 – 21 October 2012, South Australia will host the eighth Regional Arts Australia National Conference, the largest arts gathering in Australia.

Do you have a great idea that you’d like to share in a panel, presentation or workshop?  If so, please consider submitting a nomination.
If you know anyone else who might be interested in nominating, please send them the link to this page.

Following the success of Junction 2010 in Launceston, the conference will be a survey of the nation’s latest regional arts practice and thinking, informing us of where we are now and indicating signposts to the future. You will swap stories, exchange ideas, be refreshed and re-energised alongside the opportunity to experience some of the nation’s best work from regional artists, organisations and communities.

Goolwa 2012 is a conference for professional artists, arts workers, volunteers, local shire and council employees interested in fostering and maintaining their local arts and culture.
We encourage you to present your ideas, workshop or presentation in a creative, inclusive and innovative way.

To help spread the word about this opportunity to participate.

Applications close on Tuesday 28 February.

Visit www.artsalexandrina.org.au to discover how you can be involved.

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Salvation Army PhD Scholarships

December 9, 2011 By 1 Comment

The Children & Families Research Centre (CFRC) at Macquarie University are currently advertising five PhD scholarships of $10 000 each, funded by the Salvation Army to be taken up within CFRC.  These can be used as top-ups for APAs or can stand alone.

The topics are in the following areas:

  • The impact of financial counselling on families
  • Income management and vulnerable families
  •   Early intervention and homeless families
  •   Teenage parents and welfare reform
  •   Community-based programs, parenting and social inclusion

Exact details of projects will be negotiated with the candidates, supervisors and the Salvation Army.
More information is available on the CFRC website: http://www.iec.mq.edu.au/research/cfrc/cfrc_home.jsp

Please contact Dr Peter Whiteman <peter.whiteman@mq.edu.au> or Professor Jennifer Bowes <jennifer.bowes@mq.edu.au> or go to the Macquarie  University website at:  http://www.hdr.mq.edu.au/information_about/scholarships/hdr_scholarships_omestic_and_international<http://www.hdr.mq.edu.au/information_about/scholarships/hdr_scholarships_domestic_candidates_only>whichncludes

for information about how to apply.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Save the Date: Third National Sustaining Rural Communities Conference 2012

December 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Mark your diaries for the Third National Sustaining Rural Communities Conference – 19th & 20th April 2012

Filed Under: Conferences, Events, Sustainable Communities Tagged With:

2012 RAS Rural Achievers announced

December 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

 

A select group of leaders from across NSW have been named recipients of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW’s (RAS) 2012 Rural Achiever Award.

Eight young aspiring, rural-minded individuals from across NSW were selected for their contributions, achievements and leadership within the rural sector and their local communities. The successful candidates were chosen from a strong field of applicants in three separate judging sessions held in Wagga Wagga, Tamworth and Sydney.

The 2012 RAS Rural Achievers are:

· Anna Redden, Somerton – Media & Public Relations Consultant – agricultural and rural sector. Anna also assists with the management of her family’s Angus stud.

· David Gale, Campbelltown – Graduate Officer, NSW Department of Primary Industries

· Hayley Rutherford, Deniliquin – Assistant Manager, cattle stud

· Kylie Jonkers, Cowra – Farmhand, Stud Groom and Agri-Business student

· Matthew Irwin, Inverell – Currently studying Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery

· Patrick Buckley, Theresa Park (Camden) – Manager, family dairy operation

· Prue Capp, Gresford – Owner-operator, Essential Equine Dentistry

· Rebecca Byrne, Moree – District Agronomist, NSW Department of Primary Industries, and part-time Rural Science student

RAS Senior Manager Agricultural Development and Youth Initiatives Jodie Dean said winning the title of Rural Achiever can be an important step in helping young rural Australian’s achieve their ambitions and kick-start their careers.

“These young individuals represent the future of agriculture and the RAS is proud to foster and support the growth of such wonderful ambassadors who help put regional NSW on the map,” Ms Dean said.

The Rural Achiever Award has provided 183 young Australians with a wealth of opportunities, spanning more than two decades. Recipients of the Award have reaped the benefits.

“The award continues to open doors for the new generation of agriculture for personal development and to take the chance to make great contacts and network with industry leaders,” Ms Dean said.

Winners receive an all-expenses paid, behind the scenes experience at the 2012 Sydney Royal Easter Show, 5 – 18 April, a share in $17,000 prize money – kindly provided by The Land and the RAS – a 12-month complimentary RAS membership, a dynamic professional development and communications workshop and the opportunity to be selected for the Woolworths Agricultural Business Scholarship Program.

Recipients will also be invited on a tour of Rural Press – home of The Land newspaper and to official functions at Parliament House and Government House.

Along with benefiting from the experience of being a Rural Achiever, winners will have the opportunity to take advantage of many career networking opportunities and build their skills in areas such as public speaking.

 

Further information, images and interview requests:

Anna Phelps, RAS Coordinator Media & Public Relations

t: (02) 9704 1471 m: 0408 657 451 f: (02) 9704 1222 : e aphelps@rasnsw.com.au


Filed Under: Awards Tagged With: ,

Landholders take Action on the Ground

December 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig, has recently announced the first round of the $99 million Action on the Ground program to help farmers cash in on Australia’s clean energy future.

Action on the Ground is funding to help farmers over the next six years to trial and demonstrate on-farm practices and technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as methane and nitrous oxide or increase soil carbon.

Minister Ludwig, who visited an on-farm demonstration site near Mildura, said the program will provide landholders, researchers, industry, government and non-government groups with funding to address the sources of agricultural emissions.

“Action on the Ground will provide farmers with support to develop the tools to mitigate the impact of climate change and help Australia meet its emission reduction targets,” Minister Ludwig said.

“The first funding round of competitive grants will commit up to $25 million between now and 2015.”

The program is a part of the Carbon Farming Futures Fund under the government’s $1.7 billion Land Sector Package.

Funding can be used to help reduce methane emissions from farmed animals and their waste; improve fertiliser use to reduce nitrous oxide emissions; and the planting and rotation of crops and grazing practices to reduce emissions from soils or increase carbon stored in soil.

“Today I visited a demonstration site near Mildura, managed by Mallee Sustainable Farming in partnership with the Birchip Cropping Group,” Minister Ludwig said.

“This is one of the many on-farm demonstration sites that have been established as part of the National Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative, a $9.5 million partnership between the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Grains Research and Development Corporation.

“The work on display here in Mildura is a preview of the great things to come for the agriculture industry thanks to funding programs such as Action on the Ground.

“Anyone interested in reducing on-farm greenhouse gas emission from the agricultural sector or increasing carbon stored in soils should make the most of this funding opportunity.”

To find out more about eligibility and how to apply for the first round of funding, visit the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website at:

www.daff.gov.au/climatechange/carbonfarmingfutures/action-on-the-ground.


Filed Under: Climate Change, DAFF, Projects Tagged With: , ,

Applications now open for the NSW Regional Dentistry Scholarship

December 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The NSW Regional Dentistry Scholarship aims to support a student with strong links to regional New South Wales to train for a professional dental career. The scholarship is awarded annually to a student commencing dentistry studies.

The one-year scholarship has a value of $4,800. The scholarship holder will also have access to mentoring support from an experienced dentist who is based in regional New South Wales.

The NSW Regional Dentistry Scholarship is supported by Senator John Williams,The Nationals Senator for NSW, and is administered by the National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA). When he announced the establishment of the scholarship Senator Williams said:

“The last available figures are a stark reminder of the lack of oral health specialists in regional areas where there are just 30 per 100,000 people compared with double that number in major cities. Remote areas fare even worse with just 20 dentists per 100,000 people. I hope in some small way this scholarship will eventually assist a country community.”

Scholarship Applications are now open and will close on 25th February, 2012.

Application Forms are available for download on the National Rural Health Alliance website:

National Rural Health Alliance NSW Regional Dentistry Scholarship

 

For more information on this scholarship, download the flyer below:

NSW-RDS Flyer-2012_HighRes

Filed Under: National Rural Health Alliance, Scholarships Tagged With: , ,

Australian Mines and Metals Association launches new Women’s Alliance

December 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Jen Mackenzie, Mining Manager, Norwich Park Mine, QLD.

Last month’s Women in Industry Conference in Sydney saw the launch of a new alliance of women working in the resources industry by the industry body, the Australian Mines and Metals Association (AMMA).

The new alliance is called the Australia Women in Resources Alliance (AWRA) and one of its key aims is to increase women’s participation in the mining industry.

The AWRA is planning to launch a series of strategies to increase the attraction and retention rate of women in the resources industry.

AMMA are working in partnership with the industry and the Federal Government’s Critical Skills Investment Fund for the project, which will implement recommendations from the National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy.

“Increasing the number of female workers in the resources and allied construction sectors has been identified as an essential strategy in meeting the industry’s escalating demand for workers,” AMMA director Minna Knight said.

“AWRA will build on many of the industry initiatives and networking groups already doing things for female resources workers, this project now gives us an opportunity to unite all these organisations under one banner and take a nationally co-ordinated approach.”

Under the AWRA project, the focus will be on identifying gaps in the application of policy and practices at worksites “while also developing guidance and assistance in terms of worksite best practices and female workforce development,” Knight added.

The NRWC are excited to see the development of this much needed organisation and look forward to their success.

For more information, visit: http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/news/mining-women-initiative-launched

Filed Under: New Organisations, Projects, Uncategorized, Women Miners Tagged With: , ,

E-Learning and Leadership Program’s first webinar a success!

December 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The first webinar, Building Leaders, from the recently launched online E-Learning and Leadership Program, was held last week and was hailed a resounding success. The program is being run by the National Rural Women’s Coalition (NRWC) and will build leadership skills and empower women to make positive changes to their rural enterprises and in their own communities.  Rural women from all corners of Australia are working together, using the latest virtual classroom style software and online social networking technology. The topics include Building Leadership, Better Business Skills, Networking and Social Media, Community Capacity Building and Climate Change Action.

“We have had an overwhelming response to the program, receiving nearly 60 applications – it just shows the way of the future in providing professional development for rural women who are otherwise isolated and unable to access traditional methods of training,” said Darriea Turley, President of the National Rural Women’s Coalition.

The Building Leaders topic was presented by Barb Madden, Queensland 2009 RIRDC Rural Women’s Award and National Runner-Up Award recipient and co-owner and chief financial officer for Smithfield Feedlot near Proston in Queensland. Barb led the session using the software Bb Collaborate (formerly Elluminate) which allows the participants to speak to each using audio and video camera options, as well as the ability to engage in active learning using virtual workshopping features.

One of the 20 participants involved in the initiative, Kate Broughton, who lives on the family’s broad acre cropping farm at Trangie in central western New South Wales, praised the program for giving practical advice on how to develop personal leadership skills. Though the Broughtons are right in the middle of a wheat harvest, the online delivery mode allowed Kate to participate in what is normally a hectic time for their family operation.

“This was a very interesting topic for me as I have never considered myself to be a leader and I have been the one behind the scenes getting on with the job.”

“It has made me think about why I think like this and how to address the fears I have associated with making mistakes. I also learnt that I already have some of these skills – so I don’t need to start from scratch to develop leadership skills.”

“I am really looking forward to all the forums and webinars to come,” said Kate.

Participants will also network and share resources using the NRWC’s online networking initiative, the National Rural Women’s Network (www.nrwn.org.au). One-on-one direction and support will be given to each person involved through the associated mentor program.  The E-Learning and Leadership Program is free and supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry under Australia’s Farming Future.

To find out more, or to register for future programs, contact Sandra Stoddart 03 5422 3238 or s.stoddart@nrwc.com.au.

You can download this post as a media release with the accompanying images form our Media Centre.

Filed Under: Projects Tagged With: ,

Support from the Governor General for our latest project!

December 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce, AC Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia

The NRWC is thrilled to have recently received official  acknowledgement of and support for our latest project, the E-Learning and Leadership Program, from our patron, Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce, AC Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia.

In her letter of support, the Governor General outlines the importance of this initiative and its ability to “… improve participant’s skills, knowledge and their leadership abilities in a supportive and mentoring environment, utilising the internet and social media to overcome the challenge of travelling great distances for classes and training opportunities. …”

The E-Learning and Leadership Program aims to build the leadership and representative capacity of women in primary industries – to strengthen primary industry productivity and develop rural, regional and remote community relsilience in a changing climate.

The Program is now well underway, with forty active participants interacting with live webinars, forums and instant chat. The forty participants are made up of carefully paired Mentors and Mentees to collaborate on a project together and to impart valuable skills and knowledge to each other.

The Program also has online presentations and interaction with experts in a range of disciplines, and will cover the following:

Building Leaders

Better Business Skills

Networking and Social Media

Community Capacity Building

Climate Change Action

You can find out more about the E-Learning and Leadership Program here.

Having this support from the Governor General is excellent recognition for the women in rural, regional and remote Australian communities and is welcome acknowledgement of the dedication the NRWC has in helping women to improve their skills, their businesses, their lives and their communities. With our patron’s support, we hope to be able to deliver more in-demand projects like the E-Learning and Leadership Program to better equip Australian women for the future.

You can read the Governor General’s letter by clicking the link below.

Message from the Governor-General

If you would like to be kept informed of the NRWC’s future programs and projects, please join our email list and we will keep you up-to-date:

Filed Under: Projects Tagged With: , , , ,
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