Women across agriculture will learn about sustainability across all aspects of their lives at the 2017 Australian Women in Agriculture (AWiA) Conference in September.
The conference, Securing Australian Agriculture – sustaining families, farming and our future will be held in Brisbane from 22-24 September.
Conference organiser and AWiA President Sarah Parker said the organisation was delivering an exciting, inspiring and diverse program for 2017.
“This conference is an opportunity for attendees to learn more about sustainability in terms of: their business; their industry; their communities and themselves,” Ms Parker said.
“Women in agriculture are often overlooked as a significant contributor to agriculture but 57 per cent of women with partners who are farmers do over 15 hours of unpaid domestic work per week, while supplementing farm income with paid work off farm.
“With so many pressures on women in agriculture, its important for us as their peak representative body to feature professional development as a key part of our conference but this year we have also made sure we put a focus on personal development.
“It’s important for women in agriculture to recognise that as hard as they work, not to lose sight of self-care.”
The program includes a keynote speech from Joy McClymont of Off The Track Training who will talk about sustainable physical and mental health and wellbeing.
The program covers a number of inspiring sessions and topics, including:
• Sustainable and Stronger You – sponsored by Rural Bank
• Sustainable Business and Land – sponsored by Sugar CRC
• A Sustainable and Innovative Future – sponsored by Meat and Livestock Australia
• Sustainable Food Supply and Healthy Communities – keynote speech by Foodbank
Attendees will also get to take part in breakout sessions covering providing a practical understanding of: applying for scholarships; getting grants; getting on boards; farm safety; understanding contracts; superannuation and workplace wellness.
The opening cocktail party, sponsored by Ruralco, will overlook the spectacular Story Bridge and feature Share The Dignity Founder and CEO Rochelle Courtenay, who also won 2016 Cosmopolitan Humanitarian of the Year.
The conference gala dinner, sponsored by Rural Bank, will be held on the Saturday evening aboard the iconic Kookaburra Queen and features Australia’s most popular rural romance author and WA RIRDC Rural Woman of the Year Finalist Fleur McDonald.
AWiA are thrilled to have partnered with Share The Dignity for the conference, and all attendees are encouraged to bring along packs of pads and tampons to donate to Share the Dignity.
Tickets can be purchased now from www.awia.org.au.