Welcome

The Victorian Government recognises and values the fundamental roles women play in strengthening and sustaining family farms, businesses and communities. The Department of Planning and Community Development supports networking between rural women through the Rural Women's Network. Involvement in the Network is informal. You can become involved in many different ways, for example by viewing our Network magazine (see below), or reading about regional events and forums and contacting us with your feedback about rural women's issues.

Help us improve our website

You can help us improve our website and go into a draw to win an 8 Megapixel digital camera. Please take our 3-5 minute website survey.

Special 75th edition of the Network newsletter

Beyond the Bushfires will be published in September 2009 and will focus on what women, wherever they live in Victoria, are doing to help rebuild the lives of those directly affected by the 2009 bushfires. The closing date for submissions is 15 July.

Read the Network (PDF 189 kb) or (Word 17 kb) flyer for more details.

Rural Women in a Changing Climate Events

As part of the Victorian Government’s strategy to support the needs of women in rural and regional areas, the Rural Women, Drought and Climate Change initiative was established in October 2006. Go to News and Events for more details and to find out about the recent state Forum.

Read our Network Newsletter

Network is a free newsletter primarily written by rural and regional women about issues affecting them. A survey of the newsletter’s readers found that most people have received the newsletter for at least five years and that its readership totals around 36,000.
The Autumn 2009 edition of the newsletter with its theme ‘Women and well-being’ is out now. Read the latest edition of the Network newsletter.

2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission

The 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission was established on 16 February to investigate the causes and responses to the bushfires which swept through parts of Victoria in late January and February 2009. For more information go to the

2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission or call 1800 243 650

Feedback

We always welcome ideas and suggestions about the website, the newsletter or the Network in general. Please contact us with your thoughts.

Web Site Updates

DPCD's websites are progressively being updated to reflect the changes following the establishment of the department. This means you will continue to see some references to the Department for Victorian Communities (DVC) as changes are being made.

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