Women’s awards – why do we need them?
The RIRDC’s Rural Women’s Award 2016 Queensland winner was announced recently and the Queensland Rural, Regional and Remote Women’s Network (QRRRWN) will soon announce the opening of this year’s Strong Women Leadership Awards program with a few new categories to add to the excitement.
What is the point? Should they exist? Why?
These awards help rural women to realise their potential, be influential, contribute and share their stories. Being part of an award program helps women to examine who they really are, what they are working hard at to achieve and what they could put their energy and focus towards next.
The application process is a learning experience in itself – having to document the reasons why they do what they do, how they are having impact and to gaze purposefully toward a future that features them as leaders of their projects, businesses and communities.
Thanks to the foresight of people like Bev Ryan, who designed and implemented the inaugural QRRRWN awards program, the developmental process of nominees is a crucial part of the program.
Nominees are challenged and supported through a series of webinars that assist them to strengthen their focus, build their profile and leverage their nomination to enhance public awareness of what they are trying to achieve for their business, community or industry.
The awards programs are about encouraging women to step up and be recognised as the leaders they are, to develop their leadership skills and increase their capacity as leaders through enhancing their networks and by surrounding themselves with support and encouragement for their ideas.
It’s not just about the personal gains for individual women. Other exciting outcomes include the recognition of women as leaders, of having great and actionable ideas and the creation of alumni of ‘thinking’ women.
Ones who have put their hands up to say they care and will put time and thought into developing ideas as to how we can make the world (or parts of it) a better place; with projects to advance their industry, their business or their community.
How wonderful is it to see financial support for the project ideas of the RIRDC award winners. It reminds me of the question: If you were given a million dollars, what would you do with it? Note: The RIRDC prizemoney is substantial – but not quite that much! Similarly, if you were given a platform that afforded you a million centimetres, social media interactions or willing supporters what would you do with it?
I’d say: Stand up, accept that nomination, learn how to put your application together, research and develop some outstanding project ideas, gather a great team together and get started.
- Alison Mobbs
