East Gippsland Women in Agriculture
About the project
For long-term change to occur, social research has identified that all decision-makers must be involved in the decision-making process. With a commitment by all parties, change is more likely to become a common practice or a ‘social norm’ within a business enterprise.
In East Gippsland, farming tends to be a family business, with women being an intricate part of the decision-making process. In the past, most of the RALF capacity-building programs have been aimed at individuals who work on farms, which is traditionally a male-dominated demographic. It has been identified that raising the awareness and capacity of only one person on a family farm is an oversight. For this reason, the East Gippsland Women in Agriculture Network (EGWAN) was developed to address this gap.
To ensure EGWAN is relevant, a Steering Committee was formed to assist in developing projects that suited women who work on farms in East Gippsland. When designing project delivery for women in agriculture, it must be acknowledged that female farmers are burdened with farm work, off-farm work, and family duties.
Project Purpose
To provide training and other programs to build capacity and equip with skills to succeed in business and life.
To create a learning space where women will be encouraged to participate, inspired to learn, and confident to apply their learnings on the farm and beyond.
To create a network of East Gippsland Women farmers
What we do
Since the initial formation of EGWAN in 2016, the group has done numerous projects:
Learning new skills
Farm visits
Creating leaders
Social events
Small Skills
After the Black Summer Fires, the Women in Ag steering committee identified several areas they felt were essential to improve.
These included:
Chainsaw training (Genoa x 2 & Orbost x 1)
How to repair a fence (Orbost, Bairnsdale, Buchan, & Benambra)
How to build a temporary fence (Bairnsdale)
Basic Rifle Skills (Buchan x 3)
Rifle maintenance (Barinsdale x 1)
Working-dog training (Bairnsdale x 1)
Small engine repairs (Sarsfield x 2)
Animal Health (euthanasia) (Bairnsdale x 1)
Basic tractor skills (Bairnsdale x 3)
How to drive a tractor (t.b.a) - 2026
SOCIAL EVENTS
Farm Visits
Farm visits are a great way to see how others live on farms in different parts of East Gippsland. Everyone faces various challenges, has different enterprises, and pursues different goals. However, they also experience similar challenges and highs.
Women in ag are happy to visit and socialise, but they must be learning something at the same time. EGWAN has done several farm visits in the past and has more planned.
Ensay & Tambo Crossing
Marlo & Newmerrella
Forge Creek
Swifts Creek & Omeo
Wairewa
Cann River (March 2026)
EGWAN has hosted several dinners with inspirational speakers.
Including:
Robyn Moore - ‘the power of the word’
Frauke Bolten-Boshammer - ‘A diamond in the dust’
Inspirational Speakers
TRAINING
High Country Farm Visit - October 2023
22 attendees, including farmers, collectively managing 6,509 ha of farmland
100% stated the event exceeded expectations with 85% thinking it was brilliant!!
Visited Jill Hill and Dee Commins properties with a stop at Nullamunjie Olives for lunch.
High Country Women
“Growing Farms… Growing Families”
In 2017 the High Country Women hosted EGWAN. This is a video about that day.
East Gippsland Farm Dog Group partnered with East Gipp Women in Agriculture
Chainsaw Course 2023 - Orbost
Chainsaw Course 2023 - Orbost
Chainsaw Course 2023 - Genoa
Chainsaw Course 2023 - Genoa (no.2)
Chainsaw Forestech - 2021
Chainsaw - Forestech 2023
one day Chainsaw Forestech 2021
Farm Visit - Forge Crk Lamb
Farm Visit - Forge Creek Free Range Eggs
Regen Grazing Management - Bengworden
Leadership Training 2022 - Wattle Point
Leadership Training 2022 - Wattle Point
Leadership Training 2019 - Nowa Nowa
Leadership Training 2019 - Nowa Nowa
Women in Ag & Business Dinner 2021 with Robyn Moore
Women in Ag & Business Dinner 2021 - Robyn Moore
Women in Ag & Business Dinner 2022
Dinner 2022 with Frauke Bolten-Boshammer
Workshop with Robyn Moore 2021 - Nicholson
Lunch 2017 - Nullamunjie Olives
Lunch at Nullamunjie Olives
Nullamunjie Olives with Sallie Jones
Leadership Training 2017 - Fraser Island (Lakes Entrance)
Leadership Training 2017
Leadership Training 2017
Boat Trip - 2020
Cruise the Lakes - Mental Health Day
Basics of Fencing 2022 - GAgG (Bairnsdale)
Basics of Fencing 2023 - Buchan
Fencing 2023 - Sarsfield
High Country Women - farm visit
Farm Visit - Tambo Crossing
Farm Visit - Doctors Flat
Farm Visit - Marlo Plains
Farm Visit - Marlo Plains
Heifers on Target 2022 - Marlo Plains
Farm Visit - Marlo Plains
This project is supported by East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program. EGWAN has had many funders over the years. They include:
