New projects for Women’s Organisations

The Minister for the Status of Women, Kate Ellis has today announced new funding for the National Women’s Alliances to undertake some important projects on emerging issues affecting women and gender equality.

“The Australian Government is committed to achieving gender equality. This funding will progress the government’s strategic agenda and commitment to improve women’s economic security,” Ms Ellis said.

The six successful projects will each receive $50,000. The projects are:

1. Multicultural women’s experiences in Australia – Australian Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Alliance (AIRWA). AIRWA will prepare an online video and print advertising campaign highlighting the adversity faced by immigrant and refugee women face integrating into Australian society.
2. Impacts and opportunities of new media technologies for feminism – EqualityRights Alliance (ERA). ERA will assess the impact of new technologies and communication on young women and develop a new website as an online place for young women to share views, connect with the women’s movement and gain access to mentoring.
3. Gender appropriate economic responses to natural disasters – Economic Security for Women (eS4W). eS4W will turn a gender lens on disaster affected areas in Queensland and Victoria, and identify a range of gendered approaches addressing the economic empowerment needs of women affected by natural disasters.
4. Empowering rural women to lead their community in the implementation of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children –  National Rural Women’s Coalition and Network (NRWCN) and Australian Women Against Violence Alliance (AWAVA). NRWCN and AWAVA will work together to develop a toolkit and guide to support women to implement the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children. The resources will focus on preventing violence before it occurs by working to change underlying causes.
5. Developing disaster resilient rural communities – National Rural Women’s Coalition and Network (NRWCN). NRWCN will develop a toolkit and manual supporting women in rural, regional and remote communities to undertake leadership roles in disaster preparation.
6. Superannuation issues for Indigenous women – National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Alliance (NATSIWA). NATSIWA will focus on superannuation issues for Indigenous women through consultation with Indigenous women, government and industry stakeholders.

The new funding is on top of core funding of $3.6 million over three years for Australia’s six National Women’s Alliances.