Country to Canberra

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (15:46): Our regional and rural women make a significant contribution to South Australia's development in economic and social terms. However, regional women continue to face particular pressures and challenges in accessing services and achieving gender equity. It always gives me great pleasure to hear about and support initiatives that help advance the potential of women, and we know that women face many obstacles that prevent them from accessing education and career opportunities.

These obstacles are multiplied for women living in rural areas who face additional distance, time and funding barriers. This means that it is important that initiatives exist that support young women from rural areas to be paired with networks, develop career networks in particular and be exposed to women and experiences that can help them become leaders in their communities.

Country to Canberra is a non-profit organisation whose mission is to empower young rural girls to reach their leadership potential. Their mission includes helping build leadership skills, encourage ambition and connect rural girls with powerful women and mentors as a means of breaking down gender and geographical barriers that they may face. Country to Canberra's flagship initiative is a nationwide essay contest where winners are awarded with an all-expenses paid 'power trip' to Canberra where they are able to meet with high-profile female politicians and other staff.

Through my former work involving the Office for Women, I was delighted to provide sponsorship which meant that this year a South Australian winner of Country to Canberra's nationwide essay competition on gender equity was selected. This student was year 11 Caitlin Heppner from Nuriootpa, who won a 'power trip' to Canberra to meet inspiring politicians and executives on 1 December. Caitlin was named the winner because of her really brilliant essay about diminishing barriers for women in agriculture and increasing female leadership in primary industries. Since being announced a winner, Caitlin has already received many leadership growth opportunities, being profiled in the Stock Journal and also interviewed on ABC radio.

Caitlin went to Canberra on 1 December and met with a variety of female politicians, such as deputy opposition leader Tanya Plibersek, assistant agricultural minister Anne Ruston, Greens deputy leader Larissa Waters and UN Women Australia Executive Director, Julie McKay, at Country to Canberra events. She also embarked on a tour of federal parliament and is now connected to a mentor for ongoing leadership coaching.

I have always been committed to ensuring that women are able to gain expertise and necessary skills to contribute as key decision-makers and leaders. It is particularly important to support rural and regional women as they make a significant contribution to their communities and our state, and they do so often under extremely difficult circumstances.

In September 2014, I was pleased to launch the Women Influencing Agribusiness and Regions Strategy on behalf of minister Bignell. The strategy has been developed to encourage more South Australian women to consider careers in agriculture and to promote the development of opportunities for women already in the industry.

I encourage all members to read Caitlin's award-winning essay. It is a marvellous piece of work and I was most impressed with her level of understanding of quite complex issues and her ability to bring those together in a very succinct and powerful essay. I would encourage honourable members to have a look at that; it can be found on the Country to Canberra website and I certainly wish her all the best in relation to her Power Trip and all her future endeavours.