Voices for Change: Rural Women in Action
We are aiming to co-designing a future-focused model for rural leadership and community engagement:
Support rural women to lead local change
Create flexible ways to contribute that fit busy lives
Ensure all rural women have a voice in decision-making
This project/activity is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.
Be part of a powerful, solution-focused conversation shaping the future of rural women’s leadership.
Rural women are ready to lead—but traditional models of engagement don’t always work.
Voices for Change: Rural Women in Action is your opportunity to step into a practical, action-driven conversation about how we make leadership and participation more accessible, inclusive, and impactful for rural women.
This isn’t a regular workshop or a talkfest—it’s a space to connect, create, and shape real solutions that support rural women in leading and contributing in ways that work for their lives and communities.
Upcoming Session Dates
Choose from one of the following interactive sessions:
Wednesday, 2 April – 11:00 AM (AEDT)
Wednesday, 2 April – 7:00 PM (AEDT)
Saturday, 5 April – 10:00 AM (AEDT)
🎟️ Limited to 20 participants per session for depth, connection, and impact.
💡 All attendees will go into the draw to win a $50 gift card (one per session – retailer TBC).
Who Should Join?
✅ Women living in rural, regional or remote communities
✅ Members and non-members of TRW (all welcome!)
✅ Community leaders, volunteers, changemakers—or anyone passionate about local impact
✅ Any rural women from anywhere in Australia
Questions We're Keen To Explore:
💡 What does your town need that a group of women could lead—if given the right support?
💡 If you had a magic wand, what would your ideal community look like?
💡 What would make it easier for you to contribute—without adding stress to your life?
💡 What kind of mentorship or peer support would help you feel more confident stepping into leadership?
💡 How do you want to be involved—in your local town, regionally, or at a national level?
💡 What kind of legacy do you want to leave in your community?
Experts Leading The Action
Melissa Tandy
Diversity and Inclusion Expert
Melissa Tandy is a Diversity and Inclusion expert and the founder of Strategic Shift Consulting. She works with businesses, government bodies, charities, and non-profits to create tailored solutions for effective change and governance.
As a strategist, she addresses challenges in Diversity and Inclusion, Risk Management, and cultural change, helping organizations align their culture with strategic goals.
Melissa is also an experienced speaker and MC and leads workshops to help Boards and teams build inclusive environments. She specializes in unique strategies and multi-year plans.
She holds leadership roles, including:
Director of Equality Australia
Chair of the Equality Australia Audit and Risk Committee
Strategic Advisor for the Pride In Diversity Executive Advisory Forum
Melissa is committed to rural sustainability in her community in Victoria.
Martin J. Cowling
Volunteering Specialist and Benefolk member
Martin brings over 20 years of leadership and consultancy experience across various sectors, from grassroots organizations to large-scale initiatives. As a former leader of the Australian government’s Office of the Not-for-Profit Sector, he played a key role in establishing the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission. Recognized as one of the Top 100 Speakers on Philanthropy by Philanthropy 101, Martin is known for his dynamic approach to volunteer management and empowering organizations to make a lasting impact.
In 2023, he collaborated with the Welsh Government on a project focused on improving volunteering access in rural communities. Judith Stone from the Wales Council for Voluntary Action praised him for his engaging workshops and expertise in diversity and inclusion. Martin is also dedicated to various charitable causes, including cancer research and homelessness, and has been a member of Benefolk since 2021.
Why This Matters?
The Voices for Change sessions are part of the co-design phase of THE Rural Woman Cooperative—a government-supported initiative to build real, scalable solutions for women to lead and take action in their local communities.
Whether you want to contribute at a local, regional, or national level—this is where the journey starts.
THE Rural Woman’s head office is located on the traditional lands of the Yuwaalaraay people and we acknowledge them as custodians. We pay tribute to the women and men who continue to take care of the lands and culture of the Aboriginal nations in Australia and around the world.
THE Rural Woman Co-operative 2023