General News
29 May, 2026
Rural women paving the way
SOUTH West Victoria was well represented at the recent Victorian Rural Women’s Network Leadership and Mentoring Program.
Delivered through Leadership Victoria and supported by the Victorian Rural Women’s Network, the program was application based and open to women living and working in rural and regional communities across agriculture, agribusiness and regional industries.
Applicants were selected through a competitive process based on leadership potential, community impact and their commitment to strengthening regional Victoria.
“Of the 11 graduates from across Victoria, nearly half the cohort came from the south west; which is something we’re incredibly proud of,” Bushfield’s Farzana Firth said.
“What felt especially meaningful was how diverse our south west representation was – from all different industries and backgrounds connected to agriculture, business and regional communities.
“In many ways, it perfectly reflected the south west itself – diverse, hardworking, community-driven and fruitful.”
Over several months, the program involved immersive leadership workshops, mentoring, collaboration and adaptive leadership training designed to help regional women grow their confidence, networks and ability to create positive change within their communities and industries.
“At the graduation ceremony, Minister for Agriculture Michaela Settle spoke about the importance of creating a ripple effect within our communities through leadership, connection and regional women supporting one another,” Farzana said.
