Grants of up to $10,000 are now available under a State Government program that provides funding support for projects to address the unique issues faced by Western Australian women.
Women's Interests Minister Simone McGurk today announced that the Grants for Women program, which is part of the McGowan Government's long-term plan for gender equality, is open for applications.
'Stronger Together: WA's Plan for Gender Equality' is a road map for governments, businesses, communities and individuals to advance gender equality over the next 10 years and build a better, fairer and more equitable WA community.
Grants of up to $5,000 are available for one-off initiatives with a duration of up to six months, and grants of up to $10,000 are available for longer-term strategic initiatives that involve a range of partners.
Priority areas for initiatives to be funded under the program this year are building economic independence and women's safety and justice.
Precedence will also be given to applications that respond to the gendered impacts of COVID-19 by supporting targeted pathways to women's social and economic recovery.
In past years, the Grants for Women program has funded initiatives such as:
- events to inspire and empower more young women in regional areas to pursue careers in STEM by linking successful female scientists, engineers and innovators with high school girls across WA;
- workshops in Busselton, Margaret River, Bridgetown and Manjimup to improve the financial literacy and independence of women living in the South-West;
- a two-day conference for women from African communities that focused on leadership, employment, financial independence and legal rights and responsibilities;
- a series of welding and plasma-cutting workshops for women that also facilitated the development of ideas into small business opportunities; and
- a summit for rural women working in the grain industry to increase their skills, capacity and confidence.
Not-for-profit and community sector organisations, unincorporated organisations, community groups and local governments are eligible to apply.
Applications close on Tuesday, October 12, 2021.
More information on the Grants for Women program and how to apply can be found at https://dlgc.communities.wa.gov.au/GrantsFunding/Pages/Grants-for-Women.aspx
As stated by Women's Interests Minister Simone McGurk:
"While a great deal of work has been done over many years to address gender quality, Western Australian women still face many challenges.
"Regrettably, Western Australia still has the nation's biggest gender pay gap of 22 per cent - compared to 14 per cent nationally - and women continue to be overlooked for leadership roles and bear the load of unpaid domestic work.
"These factors pile up to progressively limit women and girls' participation in economic and social life, often having long-term negative impacts on their life outcomes.
"Initiatives funded under the Grants for Women program will support women and girls to reach their potential in all aspects of life - at school, in the workplace, in retirement and in their homes and communities."
