Rural Women's Council

Please find following information on the NSW Rural Women's Council (formerly the Rural Women's Network State Advisory Committee). More information on the Council and it's members is available from our website: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/rwn
The NSW Rural Women’s Council met in Orange this week to provide feedback to Government on issues such as dental services and tourism initiatives in rural and regional NSW.
Manager of Community Engagement at Industry & Investment NSW, Sonia Muir said the council is working hard to identify emerging issues which affect women and families in regional, NSW and advocate on their behalf.
“The council is committed to making a difference in women’s lives by promoting initiatives and providing advice directly to the Government through the Minister for Primary Industries,” Ms Muir said.
“As part of the meeting in the Central West this week, the council will be visiting dental facilities at Charles Sturt University’s Orange campus to see what is being done to improve services in regional communities.
“The council will also be speaking with Tourism NSW to see how it can help drive initiatives to encourage tourists to visit regional areas and contribute to the local economies.
“There are many women in rural NSW who would genuinely like to improve things in their community by initiating a project, recruiting volunteers, raising awareness, or even gaining more Government funding for a community resource and that’s exactly what the council is working to achieve.
“The NSW Rural Women’s Council was formerly known as the State Advisory Committee (SAC) but it now has a much broader focus on delivering projects and providing a vital link between rural women and the Government.”
The Rural Women’s Council is also actively involved with:

• The Rural Women’s Network;
• The RIRDC Rural Women’s Award; and
• The annual NSW Rural Women’s Gathering. This year it will be held in Wentworth in Southern NSW from 29-31 October.

The Rural Women’s Council has up to nine community members which include representatives and nominees from the Far Western region; the Country Women’s Association of NSW; the NSW Farmers' Association; a University academic with a rural research focus; the Livestock Health & Pest Authorities; NSW Rural Financial Counselling Service; Natural Resource Management; an Aboriginal women representative and a nominee from the NSW Minister for Primary Industries.

“The council provides an important service for our State as women are often seen as the backbone of support in most families, businesses and communities.”