Country to Canberra is empowering young rural women and non-binary people to reach their leadership potential. Founded in 2014, our award-winning not-for-profit runs nationwide programs that provide education, leadership and mentorship opportunities to regional, rural and remote girls and non-binary teens. We are a leading voice for young women, and are committed to strengthening rural communities into the future. Our initiatives support young women and non-binary people. We always intend to be gender inclusive, even if not expressly stated.
— Our Mission
To empower young rural women to reach their leadership potential.
— Our Motivation
Distance, time and funding barriers can isolate rural and remote students from education & career opportunities. Pairing this with Australia’s gender pay gap, gender-based violence, unconscious bias, and the underrepresentation of women in politics, primary industries and business leadership, it’s clear that young rural women face significant challenges as they strive toward their goals.
— Our Beginnings
Country to Canberra was founded in 2014 by our former Chair of our Board of Directors, Hannah Wandel OAM. Hannah grew up on a farm in South Australia, and although she loved her local community, she recognised that there were additional challenges faced by rural and remote students. Further, as a gender equality advocate, she was determined to increase leadership opportunities for young women and girls.
