New initiative offers expert advice to women entrepreneurs in regional Aus

Women entrepreneurs in rural and regional Australia will be offered unprecedented support in 2025 through a new initiative designed to overcome the challenges they face in starting and growing businesses.

From Bundaberg to Broken Hill, and beyond, women in every corner of the country will have access to free, virtual business workshops hosted by experts in their fields. These monthly sessions, running from Monday, January 20 to Monday, June 30, aim to empower female entrepreneurs by covering a wide range of essential topics.

Women in remote and rural areas often face unique barriers to entrepreneurship, such as limited access to resources, networks, and expertise. While the Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that approximately 33% of women running businesses live in regional or remote Australia, a recent study highlights that only 13% of entrepreneurial activity in these areas is driven by women.

Enterprising ME, a government-funded program designed to support women and girls across Australia, is facilitating the free digital sessions. Participants will learn how to develop a marketing plan, understand legal considerations, manage finances, raise funds, and protect intellectual property. The sessions will also be supplemented by digital toolkits created by the experts.

The toolkit authors include children’s performer and business mentor Tina Harris, marketing strategist Anaita Sarkar, legal expert Davina Borrow-Jones, Legalite’s Marianne Marchesi, and storytelling coach Odette Barry.

Tina Harris will kick off the series on January 20, presenting her session based on the Ideation and Validation Toolkit, and will be available to answer questions during the event.

“These virtual sessions are designed to make it easier for women everywhere to access business support and resources, no matter their location,” said Harris. “If you’re thinking about starting or growing your business in 2025, these workshops will provide the building blocks for success.”

The launch of these sessions follows the release of Enterprising ME’s Decadal Plan, which aims to enhance female entrepreneurship through a framework for corporations, governments, and advocacy groups to promote gender equality in the business world.

Fleur Anderson, Director of Enterprising ME, emphasized the program’s commitment to creating a more supportive environment for women entrepreneurs, especially in rural and regional areas where challenges can be more pronounced.

“Whether balancing family and work, living in remote communities, or lacking confidence, we know how difficult it can be for women to take the first step,” Anderson said. “These sessions are designed to make starting a business more accessible, practical, and inspiring for women everywhere.”

Enterprising ME exists to unlock the untapped entrepreneurial potential of women – providing the skills, resources and confidence women need to become Australia’s next entrepreneurs.

The Enterprising ME initiative is funded by the Australian Government’s Women’s Leadership and Development Program and delivered in partnership with the Council of Small Business Organisaions Australia (COSBOA).

Registrations for each session can be made here: https://enterprisingme.com.au/resources/digital-toolkits/

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