The AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award acknowledges and supports the essential role women play in rural and regional businesses, industries and communities.

Deputy Prime Minister, the Honourable Barnaby Joyce, made the announcement at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday.

Tanya will receive a $10,000 bursary from Westpac (adding to the $10,000 bursary she received as the WA state winner) to further progress her winning project – a Camp program to support women from regional WA to develop their leadership skills and capacity – plus also assist with speaking engagements as the National Winner.

“I am thankful to AgriFutures Australia and the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award for this fantastic opportunity. It just shows that even in an isolated location like Kulin, you can make a difference,” Tanya said.

“The Award bursary will allow me to really ramp up the women’s camp pilot program. This program will target women living and working in rural and regional areas, providing personal development and leadership skills training to increase their self-esteem and equip them to take on leadership roles and initiate change in their own communities.”

Tanya ran camp and youth activity programs for at risk children all over the world before she established Camp Kulin four years ago.

“I had to resort to Google maps to find the location of Kulin when a resident first called and invited me to visit in 2013,” Tanya said.

“When I saw the incredible accommodation, pools, water slide and grounds of Camp Kulin sitting empty in WA’s wheatbelt, 280km south-east of Perth, I promptly told friends, family and colleagues I was moving.”

Now, under Tanya’s guidance, hundreds of volunteers contribute to improving the lives of WA children by teaching them life skills, leadership and self-confidence. 

“There are huge opportunities in rural and regional Australia, and not just in traditional agricultural industries.”

The 2017 national runner up, Simone Kain from SA, is living proof the Award is creating opportunities for female leaders wanting to create impact in rural and regional Australia.

Simone identified a lack of children’s books addressing life on the land in Australia. Simone will be building on her successful ‘George the Farmer’ stories and educational resources about life on the land by creating three new educational children’s resources, focusing on the wide and varied careers that are possible in agriculture, and featuring her other popular character Dr Ruby, a talented agronomist.

Online applications for the 2018 AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award have now opened at (click HERE to nominate) and close on Sunday, 29 October.