SES undertook a research project for the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) which aimed to identify the support needs of women business operators in rural and remote Australia.

The project grew out of an idea that the development of entrepreneurial skills is central to the sustainability of industries and to the development of new, innovative and viable small businesses, in particular in rural and regional communities around Australia. Women in rural and remote areas often have the capacity to develop a new business, but there has been little research on their aspirations and support needs. To help women business operators ‘in the bush’ to grow their businesses, this project sought to first understand more about their development and support needs of women in business and thinking of starting a business.

The project consisted of a review of relevant literature, followed by trial and release of a national on-line survey, a series of focus groups and a number of one-to-one interviews. The findings from the primary research activities were analysed and compiled into a report published by RIRDC.

The project found that women in rural and remote Australia are a lynchpin of regional economies, running diverse and economically significant businesses with an overall economic impact of some $1.2 billion per annum. These businesswomen are multi-skilled, work long hours, and are using the business option as a strategic way of diversifying income sources in areas with limited employment opportunities.

The project found a strong unmet need for support in building better business skills from this group, and identified the importance of support that is attractive to and tailored for women. Given the multiple roles of many women in farm, off-farm and partner’s business activities, the project found that the flow-on effect from effective support for regional businesswomen is likely to be very significant—more so than boosting support in metropolitan areas.

The report helps define the entrepreneurial support needs of women running businesses in rural and remote Australia, support necessary if these entrepreneurs are to be able to increase their industries’ and communities’ economic, business and employment opportunities. The report also provides information that will enable communities, and the business support and education systems, to develop targeted and more effective support materials and activities.

The report is available at: http://www.rirdc.gov.au/fullreports/hcc.html