Five specialist women’s organisations will share more than $10 million after a successful grant round for the continued work of the National Women’s Alliances model.
The Working with Women Alliance (led by YWCA Canberra), the National Rural Women’s Coalition, Women with Disabilities Australia, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Alliance and the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia will receive the funding.
The new funding, which comes after an open competitive grant round, is designed to support these organisations in ensuring women’s voices are central to the policy development process of the Albanese government as part of the National Women’s Alliances program.
“The National Women’s Alliances are an important part of the ongoing consultation between Government and Australian women,” Minister for Women Katy Gallagher said.
“They help us to understand the challenges experienced by women all over the country and what we can do to improve their day to day lives.”
Gallagher said the new phase of the National Women’s Alliances will help the government achieve its ambitions set out in its Working for Women plan.
“I look forward to working with the Alliances to drive further change and progress gender equality in Australia,” she said.
The National Women’s Alliances inform policy across areas like women’s safety, women’s economic security, issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women living in rural, regional and remote areas, women with disability and women from culturally diverse backgrounds.
They are funded by the Office for Women under the Working for Women Program. Under this recent funding round, the new Working with Women Alliance brings together work previously led by two separate Alliances representing gender-based violence, and women’s economic equality.
Assistant Minister for Women Kate Thwaites said the Alliances play an important role in representing the voices of women from a diverse range of backgrounds.
“The Alliances will also work together to make sure we hear and understand the experiences and issues affecting women in Australia,” Thwaites said.
“I look forward to working closely with the Alliances as part of our efforts to achieve gender equality.”