Female agritourism operators and regional organisations have a new funding opportunity with the opening of the Cook Government’s ‘Women’s Grants for a Stronger Future Program’. With a total of $585,000 available, the program is designed to fund projects that support Western Australian women and advance gender equality, offering a relevant funding stream for businesses and community groups in the agritourism sector.

Understanding the Two Grant Streams

The program is divided into two distinct opportunities, catering to projects of different scales and focus areas.

The Annual Grants Program offers grants of up to $10,000 for one-off initiatives. This stream is well-suited for smaller, targeted projects. For an agritourism operator, this could fund a mentorship program for women in the local industry, a skills development workshop, or a community event celebrating the contribution of women in agriculture.

The Safety and Justice Grants Program will allocate larger grants of up to $150,000. These funds are for projects that work towards the primary prevention of violence against women, with a specific focus on sexual violence. While more specialised, regional organisations that WAAA members may be involved with could be eligible to apply for initiatives that strengthen community safety.

Relevance for Agritourism and Regional Communities

This grant program aligns with the core WAAA priority of community and skills development. Previous recipients have included mentorship programs for female start-up businesses and projects creating new employment pathways for women, both of which are highly relevant to the challenges and opportunities in regional WA.

Women’s Minister Simone McGurk highlighted the program’s objective to empower local initiatives.

“Western Australians are leading bold, innovative projects that strengthen communities and drive progress toward gender equality. Through the Women’s Grants for a Stronger Future Program, our government is proud to support organisations working to create lasting, positive change,” she said.

The Minister also noted the program’s role in translating ideas into action.

“These grants recognise the creativity, resilience and expertise of women across WA and help turn great ideas into lasting impact,” Ms McGurk stated.

Application Deadlines

Interested operators and organisations should be aware of the different closing dates for each stream. Applications for the larger Safety and Justice Grants Program close at 3pm on 3 October 2025. Applications for the Annual Grants Program (up to $10,000) open on 15 September and close at 3pm on 17 October 2025.

Words by:

Andy Burns

Andy Burns is a driving force in the Western Australian tourism industry, currently serving as Vice-President of the WAAA. He’s the Founder of Scott Aussie Tourism Marketing, a South West WA-based agency specialising in helping tourism businesses thrive in the digital age. Scott Aussie offers a full range of marketing services, from strategic planning and branding to content creation, social media management, and AI-powered solutions. Andy’s deep understanding of the tourism landscape, combined with his expertise in destination marketing and community engagement, makes him a sought-after advisor, speaker, and trainer. He’s a regular presenter at industry conferences and workshops, sharing his insights on topics ranging from digital marketing strategy to the future of tourism. Andy is also a member of the Manjimup Tourist Bureau and a Councillor at the Shire of Manjimup. His previous leadership roles include six years on the board of Tourism Rockingham and five years as Chair of a Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attraction (DBCA) advisory committee.