Support to re-enter the workforce, grants to address barriers to economic security, support for volunteering in Queensland and mental health services are key outcomes for rural, regional and remote Queensland women in the FY 27 State Budget, handed down in Parliament this week.
The Budget measures, some extensions of existing programs, provide welcome certainty for regional women to access support and services across key areas of need and directly respond to some of the recommendations we made in our advocacy ahead of the Budget delivery.
RRR Women State Budget Submission
As an independent, member-led organisation, RRR Women plays a critical role in elevating the voices of women who are often under-represented in policy processes.
Ahead of the Budget delivery, RRR Women made a comprehensive pre-Budget submission to Queensland Treasury on behalf of our members. The priority recommendations in our submission are intended to improve the experience of rural, regional and remote Queensland women and the communities in which they live and work, strengthening their capacity to continue their invaluable roles in wider economies and industries and across the state. Combined with those priorities of our peer organisations, these recommendations can support the dissolution of the urban rural divide in Queensland and equal access to services for all Queenslanders.
We called for: Financial literacy and economic security
Financial literacy and economic security are key priorities for our members. Our submission specifically called for an extension of the Empowering Queensland Women Grants Program with particular focus on place-based financial capability and investment readiness programs for women-led small businesses.
The submission also called for support for events and mentorship programs tailored to women outside major cities and funding for mentoring and further skills development programs for women.
What the Budget delivered:
- Addressing barriers to womens economic and financial security through the Empowering Queensland Womens Grant Program
- Further rounds of the Womens Career Grants to help more Queensland women with the costs of returning to work, including workwear, childcare and technology
- Helping women over 40 return to work or study through Jobs Academy
- Supporting female founders to build investment capability and connect with investors through the Backing Female Founders Program
- Support for women and families experiencing financial vulnerability through the Financial Literacy and Resilience Program delivering financial counselling.
We called for: Volunteering economy: The triple shift
Volunteers bring a variety of skills and experiences which are fundamental to volunteer organisations. However, some committees lack professional skills required to work efficiently and effectively. Upskilling volunteers in critical areas can improve the volunteer experience and organisation outcomes, and reduce legislative, safety and compliance risk for the organisation and individual.
What the Budget delivered:
Importantly, the Budget secured a commitment to additional funding to deliver the first phase of the 10-year Volunteering Plan and progress the Inquiry Response. RRR Women made a submission to and appeared as a witness to the Volunteering Inquiry, representing our members interests, and welcome to this commitment to volunteering in Queensland.
We called for: Mental health:
Queensland’s many geographically isolated communities and those disadvantaged through the urban-rural divide report high rates of distress, compounded with economic, social and personal pressures. It’s why we called for funding for existing community organisations to partner with mental health and wellness service providers and experts to lead on-going mental health and wellness programs.
What the Budget delivered:
- A series of new and increased mental health services, especially in regional areas
- An additional 30 specialist perinatal mother and baby beds and improved access to perinatal mental health services across Queensland.
Other Budget commitments:
- Supporting the Living Away From Home Allowance Scheme for Queensland families whose children need to live away from home to attend school
- Increasing the fuel subsidy under the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme to 45 cents per kilometre for patients travelling to specialist medical appointments they can’t access locally
- Delivering the new Women and Family Health Centre at Gladstone Hospital.
What the Budget missed
There is still work to do.
Digital inclusion and telecommunications and energy policy certainty and responsibly rolling out renewables are significant priorities for our members. RRR Women will continue our advocacy in these important areas and for recommendations specific to rural, regional and remote Queensland women. We will keep working with government, partners and our members to ensure rural, regional and remote women remain visible, heard and supported.
