Murray Dairy News
Inspiring Women In Dairy Program
Women in dairy from all over Australia are invited to sign up for an innovative leadership and business development program, to be held in Shepparton in September.
The collaborative delivery using Murray Dairy, Dairy Australia and National Centre for Dairy Education (NCDEA) resources and funding, will enable participants to take part in the four-day workshop program for a cost of $175 per person. This includes all accommodation and meals.
Murray Dairy chief executive officer Sarah Parker said the program could mean big things for the next generation of women in dairy.
“Murray Dairy is proud to deliver a program designed to inspire women to develop and grow within the dairy industry. We welcome participation from women across all dairying regions of Australia, particularly those who have faced the additional challenges of dealing with natural disasters impacting on their own businesses and communities.”
The program includes an initial three-day residential learning program with a follow up day two months later. It will focus on building networks, leadership, business management and climate change, with participants completing an action learning project supported by a strong mentoring culture. Places are limited to 25 women to ensure participants gain the maximum benefit from the program.
The program will be delivered by Cathy McGowan AO, rural consultant, Cheryl Graham from Farming Answers and Dr Kristy Howard from Inspiring Excellence. Ms McGowan facilitated the ‘National Women in Dairy Forum’ in March 2010. Ms McGowan said among many outcomes from the very successful day, delegates called for a national women in dairy network and ongoing training in leadership.
“We are delighted to provide this workshop and hope that one of the outcomes will be a national network. The women in the previous programs had a range of business skills, were keen to learn and share what they knew and they developed strong and supportive networks through the program,” Ms McGowan said.
Stanhope dairy farmer Julie Young was a participant in the ‘Inspiring Women Farmers’ program run by the team in 2010, in conjunction with the Riverine Plains Cropping Group. Julie also spoke highly of the program.
“Attending the workshops reinvigorated me. I felt so motivated and one of the benefits was making such great connections. I would highly recommend it to anyone. Many of the women that attended grew in confidence and have gone on to do wonderful things on their farms and in their communities,” Ms Young said.
This project is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry under its Australia’s Farming Future initiative, and incorporates one unit within the Advanced Diploma of Agriculture: RTE6802A Lead and Manage Community or Industry Organisations.
Anyone interested in the program can contact Tori Rath at Murray Dairy on (03) 5833 5927 to have an application form sent to them.
