My wish list to improve the lives of Australia's rural women

Children across Australia are already starting to pen their Christmas lists for Santa. It’s International Rural Women’s Day and it got me thinking, what would be on the wish list of rural women today? Here’s mine. 

I’m a mother, a wife, a daughter and sister. A farmer, a journalist, a business owner and more. 

Like many rural women I balance the demands of family, farming and my professional career, and here’s my wish list. 

1. Better access to health services, including mental health

Rural Australians have been treated like second class citizens for too long when it comes to healthcare. I understand the whole system is under pressure, but it’s profound in regional Australia. Our waitlists are out of control, for GPs and specialists, our under-staffed hospitals are falling down and too small, not to mention that anything slightly complex often requires travel to capital cities. Rural Australians are dying before they can access appropriate care and this has to change. 

2. For more women to embrace a career in agriculture

There are so many different way to get involved with agriculture and women are getting on board. According to the ABS, in the 2021 Census the industry is made up of more women than ever before – 32%. I’m proud to work in an all-female content team at AuctionsPlus, where the company-wide workforce gender is currently 51% female, with females also in 50% of executive roles. The market operations team, which is largely made up of entry level roles, is 70% female – young women are the backbone of the business, which I love. There are so many opportunities is agriculture - not just farming.

3. Childcare that’s accessible, affordable and most importantly flexible

I don’t know if I need to go into too much detail on this one. We all know there’s not enough childcare, that it’s often cost prohibitive and in rural and regional Australia so hard to get places that many women don't have the option to utilise it. A world-first study by Victoria University’s Mitchell Institute recently found that about 24% of Australia’s population live in areas classified as childcare deserts – where there are more than three children per childcare place – with regional, rural and remote Australians most impacted.  

4. Titles that reflect the roles we undertake

Titles matter. While many “farm wives” are often referred to as the bookkeepers, they are so much more. Recently at a farm business event we were asked who the CEO of our business was and on reflection it was clear it was me. So I’ve spent more than 10 years as the CEO of a multi-million dollar farm business and didn’t even know it. While men may often be the face of a farm, it is actually the women who are not just paying bills and reconciling the BAS, but making strategic plans, hiring and firing, and keeping the business and family together. A title may just be words, but accurately reflecting the contribution women are making, and have been making forever, is empowering.  

5. A support network

I’m lucky enough to have a village of farm mums, industry legends and wonderful women in my pocket. Shoutout to Motherland Australia, for hooking me up with this group three years ago. A Motherland survey found that 50% of rural mums can’t access a mother’s group and 70% said being isolated was the hardest part of rural motherhood. As a result Motherland Village was born as an online replacement with likeminded women. We may have initially bonded as farm mums, but are now trusted confidents in everything from farm business decisions, to relationships and our off-farm careers. I am so thankful for Carlie, Felicity, Jess, Karmen, Leanne, Sarah and Steph and truly wish every rural woman could have their very own village of support - whether they're near or far.

6. For rural women to feel seen

There’s something special about opening up a newspaper, or the APlus News homepage, and seeing someone you resonate with. Today, we have highlighted the incredible Phoebe Yabsley. It’s stories like these that show young people the different paths you can take in agriculture. I want to include more stories like this on our platform, so please reach out if you know an incredible woman we should be writing an article about.  I have for a long time championed young women in agriculture, but as I get older there’s also a pull to interview older women in agriculture and shine a light on what they have achieved. The work of older rural women – whether on the farm, in the office, off the farm, taking care of grandchildren and so much more – would have to be some of the least appreciated on the farm. There’s no way we could do it without them.  

There’s plenty of other things that I could have included: a good internet connection, reliable phone service and not spending half my life at the tyre repair shop due to dodgy roads ... but I digress.  

This is just a wish list, and we all – men and women – play our part in turning this into an action list. 

To all the rural women reading this – I see you, I am you and I look forward to being part of the positive change and reflecting on it next October 15.