RURAL and regional business women often face unique challenges not experienced by their city sisters.
A University of Southern Queensland (USQ) program aims to break down barriers for women in business in rural, remote and regional parts of Australia.
The WiRE (women in rural, remote, regional enterprises) program promotes and cultivates entrepreneurship and innovation, encouraging women to progress their business and career dreams.
Some hurdles rural and regional women face include a lack of access to mentoring, information sources, technology and learning facilities.
USQ researcher and WiRE program director, Professor Retha Wiesner, said there was a huge opportunity to boost Australia’s entrepreneurial capacity, with nearly half of all new ventures founded in rural, regional or remote areas yet only 2.4 per cent of these founded by women.
One of the ways the WiRE program is adressing this is through two day learning, development and support business boot camps.
Next week women from across north Queensland will have the chance to bring their ideas to the table, joining other female entrepreneurs, mentors and trainers for a concentrated two days of learning at Airlie Beach.
“They will have the opportunity to grow and accelerate their business ideas or community ventures through a practical, experiential activity-based growth retreat,” said Professor Wiesner.
“They will leave knowing how to construct and innovate a business model, assess product feasibility, and successfully articulate their ideas and vision.
“It’s suitable not only for women who are aspiring entrepreneurs or seasoned entrepreneurs with a new idea, but also an executive or volunteer looking to bring entrepreneurial thinking into their workplace or organisation.”
The WiRE program is run in partnership with QRRRWN, Startup Toowoomba and Fire Station 101, and funded by the Federal Government.
The Airlie Beach Bootcamp is financially supported by the Queensland Government through its Advancing Women in Business (AWB) initiative.
For more information visit www.wireprogram.com
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