Cathy McGowan (Indi, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It gives me great pleasure to welcome to this place today members of the National Rural Women's Coalition's E-Leaders Program and, in particular, to acknowledge the skill, dedication and persistence of the women who made the program possible. You know who you are.

The National Rural Women's Coalition, established in 2002, seeks to ensure better social and economic outcomes for women in our rural townships and on our farms. Its purpose is to support and grow vibrant rural, remote and regional communities throughout all Australia.

Member organisations include: Australian Local Government Women's Association, Australian Women in Agriculture, Country Women's Association of Australia, the Indigenous Rural Women's Representatives, National Rural Health Alliance and the Women's Industry Network Seafood Community.

Today I acknowledge participants in the Women Towards Sustainability E-Leaders Program. This is an online collaboration of learning and capacity building in environmental sustainability and natural resource management. A group of 25 women from around Australia have participated, and these participants nominate an on-ground project which they will work on during the program.

This program was made possible by funding from the Australian government's Caring for Our Country National Landcare Program from the Department of Agriculture. Thank you! It is a great example of Landcare money being used to assist rural women to be innovators in their communities.