Remote, rural and regional women truly are amazing, as are those who are metro-based and work and volunteer with our partners. While we recognise this every day, International Women’s Day (IWD) is the perfect opportunity to publicly celebrate and reflect on the incredible women who dedicate themselves to supporting their families, colleagues and communities.

At FRRR, we work with women every day, whether that be our wonderful team or by supporting projects led by women – some of which benefit their whole community, while others are designed for women. We see firsthand how their dedication, innovative thinking, compassion, expertise and endurance are creating a more vibrant and resilient remote, rural and regional Australia for us all.

This year’s theme for IWD is accelerate action. It calls for swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality and for increased momentum in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, both in personal and professional spheres.

Below are several projects that we are proud to support that showcase the value of – and critical importance of – targeted action in communities in accelerating progress towards a more equitable tomorrow by empowering women today.

The Mallacoota Wilderness Collective: Digital Workshops for Women

By empowering isolated women with digital skills and confidence, Mallacoota Wilderness Collective Inc in eastern Victoria has improved access to technology for older women. They did this by creating a comfortable and supportive environment in which to learn and share.  

In addition, there were more than 34 free workshops in technology, leadership, and online safety, coupled with younger women mentoring older and more vulnerable participants who were still feeling the impacts of bushfires. The drop-in IT help sessions were supported by a $9,804 Strengthening Rural Communities grant and fostered hands-on support, connection and independence among attendees.

The project involved tangible steps to improve an older generation of women’s digital literacy. By facilitating intergenerational learning, these workshops have helped to ensure that rural women of all ages feel empowered and confident in their use of technology sooner rather than later.

Enterprise Partnerships WA: Piriwa Placemaking Project

Enterprise Partnerships WA is a First Nations ally organisation, empowering remote First Nations women in the Kimberley through community-led enterprise, entrepreneurship and leadership initiatives. They used a $10,000 Strengthening Rural Communities grant to support The Piriwa Hub in Balgo, which provides a safe space for skills development, wellbeing support and cultural preservation.

The funds were used to purchase and transport a 20-ft watertight sea container from Kununurra to Balgo. Collaborating with Wirrimanu Aboriginal Corporation enabled Piriwa to obtain a land lease for the new container. The women of the Piriwa Hub were most proud of this collaboration and how it proves they have continued support from the local community.

The new storage container has been a game-changer, making it easier to manage donations, run the shop smoothly and cut down on waste. It has also boosted the women-led leadership team’s confidence in governance and negotiation. Through this project, Enterprise Partnerships WA is helping to drive change by creating opportunities for women to lead, learn and thrive, ensuring their voices and contributions shape a stronger, more inclusive Balgo.

In their final report they said: “The most successful achievement of this grant is the additional infrastructure it has provided to Piriwa to enable the women to continue their focus on young women, keeping culture strong and providing an op shop to the community.”

Wimmera Women Connect: Consolidating the way forward

After COVID, many women in the Wimmera region of Victoria faced isolation, increased domestic responsibilities and limited professional support. In 2022, Wimmera Women Connect was founded to combat these challenges, aiming to foster connections, reduce isolation and promote gender equality to support women in the community.

WWC used a $7,374 Strengthening Rural Communities Prepare and Recover grant to enhance their organisational capacity, so they could expand their reach and effectiveness. The funds were invested in strategic planning, digital resources, branding, leadership development, volunteer engagement and financial sustainability – all working to create a sustainable and well-resourced organisation that connects and empowers women in Wimmera.

The project supported a range of events that worked to elevate women’s voices and contributions in the community, including:

• Equity in the Wimmera – a panel discussion about cultures and drivers that contribute to gendered violence, and
• Not Just a Farmer – a frank and open discussion about one local woman’s quest to address rural mental health and suicide through an independently funded film she wrote, produced and starred in.

By fostering meaningful relationships and providing leadership opportunities, WWC is helping women build confidence, feel a sense of belonging and actively contribute to a more inclusive and supportive regional community.

The Nintirri Centre Incorporated: Midwife Services in the Inland Pilbara

Nintirri Centre is a not-for-profit located in Tom Price in the Pilbara region of WA. It iscommitted to supporting remote and rural women by delivering essential health, education and wellbeing services. Recognising the urgent need for accessible antenatal care in non-birthing towns like Tom Price and Paraburdoo, Nintirri launched a FIFO midwife program in 2022. The service ensures women, especially First Nations people living on Country, receive vital reproductive healthcare despite ongoing travel barriers exacerbated by the COVID pandemic.

A $10,000 Strengthening Rural Communities grant supported their initiative, enabling essential antenatal and postnatal care, including regular home visits. Without this kind of early intervention, many women in remote communities would face late diagnoses of complications, increasing risks to both mother and baby.

Nintirri’s FIFO midwife program is an essential step toward equitable healthcare for rural women and improving access to reproductive healthcare has always been, and continues to be for many, a crucial step towards gender equality. When women can safely navigate pregnancy and birth within their community, it not only reduces strain on local health services, but they experience better health outcomes, greater empowerment and improved family stability. 

These four projects offer just a glimpse into the efforts underway – led by and for women across remote, rural, and regional Australia – to accelerate progress toward gender equality. We’re excited for the journey ahead and look forward to contributing to many more initiatives in the future.

This story was submitted as part of FRRR’s 25th birthday celebrations.

“We feel very grateful to have had the support of FRRR and for the work it does in generating and distributing financial support for regional organisations and communities.”

Natalie Woods, Grants and Fundraising Coordinator

“We have been fortunate to receive a number of grants through FRRR. In 2024, a Strengthening Rural Communities grant enabled us to provide six weeks of meal support to 10 Indigenous mothers and their families, relieving the financial burden and stress of the postpartum period, while also nourishing mother and baby and creating a strong health foundation. In the same year, an ABC Heywire grant supported the establishment of a pilot program to take disengaged high school Indigenous girls out of the classroom and out on Country once a week for eight weeks. The girls reconnected to Country, culture and community, learning about their traditional bush foods, how to grow them and how to cook them. This pilot program has gone on to be funded for 2025 and 2026, thanks to the early support of FRRR. In 2025, a grant from the In A Good Place program will support the delivery of four Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Community Days, providing free resources and support for maintaining good physical and mental health.

“Without this funding, we would not have been able to get both our Indigenous Postpartum Care Program and our pilot Doobai Youth Bush Food Program off the ground. We’re grateful for the trust that FRRR shows in us and the belief in our programs and the impact we have for our local Indigenous community here on Bundjalung Country (Northern NSW).”

The Returning Indigenous Corporation’s vision for the future

“In 2050, we hope we have a strong and resilient community on Bundjalung Country – where all people, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, are connected to Country, connected to each other and living healthy and resilient lives. We hope that the roles of women and mothers are valued and supported, and that our Matriarch Elders are given the support and care they deserve. We hope that everyone has access to strong local food systems, clean water and fresh air, and that our community has the strong social networks to support each other through times of disaster and crisis.”

The much-loved Bellingen Show has been held in the NSW Bellingen Shire every year since 1881. Its purpose is to entertain and educate the community, as well as celebrate the rural heritage of the Shire.

In 2022, the Bellinger River area​ was impacted by major floods, challenging the existing practices in rural agricultural shows. Unprecedented rainfall meant that the Bellingen Show hosted its first community event with no show rides. What initially appeared to be a huge problem became an opportunity to re-imagine the show and the entertainment it offers.

The Bellinger River Agricultural Society came up with the idea of an Artisan’s Tent for the 2023 event, a space where regional artists could display, sell and demonstrate techniques of their creative skills. A $10,000 Strengthening Rural Communities grant was used to hire the marquee, which hosted a variety of engaging and creative workshops for all ages and abilities.

Recognising that art therapy can support flood recovery, the Artisan’s Tent encouraged show-goers to come together and have fun with diverse arts and crafts, ranging from crochet and tapestry work, to creating a community mosaic mural of local snapping turtles that was later installed in town. Four large working Japanese textile looms onsite also enabled show visitors to weave their own unique piece of fabric. Overall, the Show committee engaged 15 artists from the area, including CALD and senior artists.

The Agricultural Society had hoped to offer an indigenous-led art workshop in the tent but the two artists that they reached out to were unavailable. Still wanting to arrange an offering from the Indigenous community, a smoking ceremony and welcome to country were organised and a local Indigenous music group performed on the Sunday, singing in the Gumbanyggirr language.

Susanne Lumsdaine, President of the Bellinger River Agricultural Society, said “The marquee space delivered a vibrant two days of free, hands-on activities for more than 4000 patrons attending the community event.”

The new Artisan’s Tent was a key contributor to the Bellinger River Agricultural Society winning the 2023 Ag Show’s NSW Innovation Award for their focus on sustainability and creativity – a fantastic achievement, as theirs was one of 192 regional agricultural shows involved.