Our history

These milestones celebrate some highlights, successes and history of both the Rural Women’s Network and the movement for rural and regional women.

1986

Office of Rural Affairs and the Victorian Rural Women’s Network established through the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs

1987

First edition of Network newsletter published
Formation of the Rural Women’s Network Reference Group

1988

Worker employed to explore the relationship between farm women and the Victorian Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs

1989

Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs appoints two part-time project officers, Women in Agriculture to work with staff to modify programs and service delivery to actively include women as clients

1990

Department of Conservation and Environment appoint a project worker for women’s participation in natural resource management
CONSERVE, the women’s environment network, is established
Inaugural Women on Farms Gathering (WOFG) held in Warragul
Office of Rural Affairs appoints an advisor to work with Women in Agriculture

1991

Rural Women’s Network Reference Group establishes an associated Women in Agriculture Working Group

1992

Establishment of statewide women in agriculture group
First nationwide meeting linking women in agriculture across Australia

1993

Rural Women’s Network Office moved to Ballarat
Establishment of Australian Women in Agriculture Inc (AWiA)

1994

Inaugural International Conference for Women in Agriculture, Melbourne
Foundation for Australian Agricultural Women established from the Conference
First ABC Australian Rural Women’s Award presented at the conference

1995

Fourth World Conference for Women in Beijing, China including a deputation from the International Conference for Women in Agriculture held in Australia
Evaluation of Network newsletter and how rural women experienced the Rural Women’s Network through the ‘More Than One Way: Hearing Women’s Voices’ project

1996

Tenth anniversary of the Victorian Rural Women’s Network
Rural Women’s Network office relocated to Melbourne

1997

Rural Women’s Working Group formed to advise Standing Committee of Agriculture and Resource Management Ministers
Victorian Women in Agriculture and Resource Management Advisory Team formed to develop the Victorian Action Plan for Women in Agriculture and Resource Management
Rural Women’s Leadership Bursary Program initiated in partnership with Office of Women’s Policy

1999

Women in Agriculture and Resource Management register commenced

2000

Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation supports National Rural Women’s Awards

2002

Rural Women’s Network moved to the Department for Victorian Communities
Closure of the Rural Women’s Network Reference Group

2003

Redevelopment of the Victorian Women in Agriculture and Resource Management Advisory Team into the Women in Rural Communities Advisory Group

2004

Final round of the Rural Women’s Leadership Bursary Program
Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Rural Women’s Awards led by the Department of Primary Industries in partnership with the Department for Victorian Communities
Closure of Women in Agriculture and Resource Management register, and transfer of registrants (voluntarily) to the Victorian Women’s Register
First round of the Rural and Regional Women’s stream in the Women’s Community Leadership Grant program

2005

Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Rural Women’s Award led by the Department of Primary Industries in partnership with the Department for Victorian Communities
Final round of the Rural and Regional Women’s stream in the Women’s Community Leadership Grant program
Conclusion of the Women in Rural Communities Advisory Group
Announcement of a Ministerial Taskforce on Women in Rural Communities for 2006

2006

Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Rural Women’s Award led by the Department of Primary Industries in partnership with the Department for Victorian Communities
First National RIRDC Rural Women’s Award made – selected from State winners
Establishment of a Taskforce on Women in Rural Communities to the Minister for Victorian Communities
Recommendations from the Taskforce adopted to support the Rural Women, Drought and Climate Change Initiative over 2 years

2007

Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) Rural Women’s Award led by the Department of Primary Industries with in kind support from the Department for Victorian Communities
Victorian woman, Deborah Bain wins the National RIRDC Rural Women’s Award
Women in Rural Communities Ministerial Taskforce concludes
As part of the Rural Women Drought and Climate Change Initiative (over 2 years)

The Department for Victorian Communities becomes the Department of Planning and Community Development

Web Site Updates

DPCD's websites are progressively being updated to reflect the changes following the establishment of the department. This means you will continue to see some references to the Department for Victorian Communities (DVC) as changes are being made.

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