About FAAW

The Foundation for Australian Agricultural Women (FAAW) is a national, independent, non-profit organisation whose mission is to resource, empower, research, influence and partner for the benefit of rural women.  It is one of the four recognised national non-government rural women’s organisations.

FAAW is governed by a board with a maximum of twelve and minimum of five directors, selected through a consultative process and serving at least one recommended term of three years. Board vacancies are advertised nationally through the FAAW email distribution list, Federal and State Departments of Agriculture, the Women on Boards network and rural women's networks.

FAAW has four external strategic objectives in addition to the 3 internal objectives of promotion, governance and growth of the organisation. These four external objectives are:

  • Women’s Education: to build the skills of rural women and facilitate access and increased participation of rural women in education
  • Women’s Employment: to facilitate satisfying employment opportunities for rural and remote women
  • Women’s Health: to enhance the wellbeing of rural and remote women
  • Women’s Leadership: to build and promote the leadership skills of women in the agricultural and rural sectors resulting in placement into key decision making roles in their communities, industries and organisations nationally

History

FAAW was established in 1995 as an outcome of the First International Conference for Women in Agriculture held in Melbourne in 1994. Its objective was to foster the spirit of the 860 women from 40 countries who came together to attend the event, which remains the largest agricultural conference ever held in Australia.

FAAW actively contributed to Australia's participation in the second conference in Washington DC in July 1998 and was involved in the organisation of the large Australian delegation to Spain in 2002.

FAAW works collaboratively with a large community of women across Australia who are involved or interested in rural and agricultural industry. It combines the skills of rural, regional and interested urban women to develop programs and pathways to improve their participation in decision-making at the community, regional and national levels. FAAW consults widely and partners government and other non-government organisations in projects of benefit to rural women.

More than 2000 women are registered with FAAW and receive copies of the Directions newsletter and interim mail-outs regarding events and surveys which are pertinent to their agricultural and rural interests. FAAW's objective is to be inclusive, and by not implementing compulsory formal membership all agricultural and rural constituents are included in the process.

Directors act in a voluntary capacity to further the goals and objectives of the Foundation and oversee projects and programs in their own communities and at state and national levels.

FAAW employs a executive assistant that provides administrative support to the board.

The FAAW Community

FAAW works with a large community of women across Australia who are involved or interested in rural and agricultural industry. We partner with organisations including corporates, industry bodies, government at stte and federal level on projects for the advancement of rural women.

FAAW recognises the contribution women make in agriculture and to maintaining an environmentally sustainable, healthy and economically viable rural Australia. There are in excess of 2000 women registered with FAAW.

FAAW's objective is to be inclusive, and by not implementing compulsory formal membership all agricultural and rural constituents are included in the process. Those wishing to become more personally involved in FAAW are invited to register with the website.

Stakeholders and Partners

  • Rural, agricultural and interested urban women
  • Corporates
  • Industry organisations
  • Federal Government
  • State and Local Government
  • Rural and other women's organisations