AgriFutures NT Rural Women’s Award 2018

Northern Territory Rural Women's Award finalists (left to right) Annette Howie, Linda Blackwood, Amber Driver

The AgriFutures™ Rural Women’s Award is Australia’s leading award acknowledging and supporting the essential role women play in rural industries, businesses and communities. DPIR would like to congratulate the 2018 Northern Territory Rural Women’s Award winner Linda Blackwood and finalists Amber Driver and Annette Howie. All three of the inspiring finalists identified important areas for development in NT regional, remote and rural communities.

Linda Blackwood won the award for a Station Site Access accreditation project that would reduce risk and increase efficiency for remote stations hiring contractors. The Award provides a platform to inspire and support Australian women to use and develop their skills to benefit their industries and communities. Linda received a $10,000 bursary to support the project, and will represent the Northern Territory (NT) at the national awards ceremony in September.

Amber Driver identified challenges faced by rural women living in the NT as a key focus area. She proposed a number of workshops to equip women with the tools to generate positive pathways for self-prosperity, resilience, success and to encourage them to take on new roles to serve both the rural sector and the community.

Annette Howie established Country Connections NT, a network that provides rural, regional and remote women across the Territory with links to support services, community groups, government and private enterprise. She is working to further develop the project onto digital platforms that connect and inform.

The $10 000 bursary is awarded to each state/territory winner, providing the financial resources to bring to life a project or initiative that will benefit rural industries, businesses and/or communities. The national winner will be awarded an additional $10,000 bursary and national runner up, an additional $5,000.

Visit the AgriFutures™ Australia website for more information.