Are you a rural woman in agriculture who wants to be a better leader? Do you want to boost your leadership skills, learn from inspiring mentors or gain board experience? Here’s your chance!

The Victorian Rural Women’s Leadership and Mentoring Program is offering rural and regional Victorian women, who are involved in agriculture or the agriculture supply chain, the opportunity to apply for funded places on established leadership and mentoring courses over the next three years (2019-2021).

These programs are the Victorian Regional Community Leadership Program, the Williamson Community Leadership Program, the Victorian Women’s Leadership Program, the Victorian Office for Women’s Board Leadership Program and The Observership Program.

The inclusive range of programs on offer are tailored for women at all stages of their leadership journey, from emerging to experienced leaders as well as applicants with disabilities and those from culturally diverse and Indigenous backgrounds.

A limited out-of-pocket allowance is available for eligible candidates on a case-by-case basis for travel, accommodation, child-minding and other potential costs that may prevent some individuals from participating.

The leadership and mentoring program was announced at the Victorian Rural Women’s Network’s first Rural Women’s Forum in August, 2018.

To get the most out of the programs, participants will be expected to travel to — and commit to —  all sessions and opportunities.

For more information and to apply, go to individual program websites (see below). For questions about the Victorian Rural Women’s Leadership and Mentoring Program, please email [email protected].

 

Victorian Women’s Leadership Program

For: agricultural women with leadership experience

FINAL APPLICATIONS CLOSE 8 APRIL 2019

For information:

leadershipvictoria.org/programs/2019-womens-leadership-program

 

Williamson Community Leadership Program (Leadership Victoria):

For: agricultural women with leadership experience.

Applications for 2019 are now closed. Applications for 2020 open 1 May 2019.

For information, go to:

leadershipvictoria.org/programs/2019-williamson-community-leadership-program

 

Victorian Regional Community Leadership Program

For: agricultural women in entry to mid-career leadership roles

Applications for 2019 are now closed.

For information, go to:

vrclp.com.au/

 

The Observership Program

For: agricultural women wanting to get board ready

Boards offering the opportunity to be an observer include the not-for-profit board East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.

Applications for 2019 are now closed.

For information, go to:

observership.com.au/

 

Victorian Office for Women

Women’s Board Leadership Program

For: agricultural women already on boards

Applications for 2019 are now closed.

For information:

vic.gov.au/women/women-s-leadership/women-s-board-leadership-program.html

 

ASSESSMENT OF APPLICATIONS

Applications will be assessed against the eligibility and selection criteria set out at the Victorian Rural Women’s Network website at the following links (to be updated for 2020 applications soon):

Williamson Community Leadership Program (for agricultural women with leadership experience)

Victorian Regional Community Leadership Program (for agricultural women in entry to mid-career leadership roles)

The Observership Program (for agricultural women wanting to be on a board)

Women’s Board Leadership Program (for agricultural women already on boards)

Women’s Leadership Program (for agricultural women with leadership experience)

Recipients of funded places on The Victorian Rural Women’s Leadership and Mentoring Program will be selected on merit and the contribution they propose to make to agriculture or the agriculture supply chain on completing their program. They will also represent the diversity of Victoria’s women involved in agriculture or the agriculture supply chain (sector, geographical location, professional experience and personal background).

Selection panel

Members of a selection panel will include Agriculture Victoria employees.

Complaints process

Complaints, enquiries and feedback in relation to the processing of applications should be sent to [email protected]

If an applicant, or any other person, continues to be dissatisfied with the administration of the program they may raise their concerns with the Victorian Ombudsman.

The Victorian Ombudsman may be contacted by telephone on (03) 9613 6222, or email at [email protected].