When you get a bunch of RRR women together, stuff gets done. When you get a network of RRR women together and strategically channel ideas and action, real change happens.
The Rural Regional and Remote Women’s Network of WA (RRR Network) has successfully secured a Lotterywest grant of $103,800. The funding was allocated under the resilient community organisation stream designed to assist not-for-profits to survive the pandemic, and to thrive when they come out of it.
Newly appointed CEO, Kendall Galbraith said “when the pandemic restrictions were enforced, I could see the year ahead to be potentially devastating for our organisation. We rely heavily on the revenue generated from face -to-face activities such as events, research and training, and with all of that quickly regressing, it was a downhill trajectory that we simply could not afford”.
In response to the pandemic, the RRR Network closed its commercial office space in the Perth CBD, supporting staff to work from home instead and their team halved in size. The RRR Network with very little resources quickly adapted by transitioning events online, such as webinars, podcasts and writing regular blog stories of RRR women. They ramped up their e-communications and reached out to members with personal phone calls and interactions.
“We always knew that the RRR Network had to eventually pivot its operations online and improve our virtual infrastructure. Covid-19 was our trigger” said Kendall.
The RRR Network leaned on its invaluable network of women to make the Lotterywest application a success. Former Agrifutures Rural Women’s Award finalist, Leah Boucher from Data Divas consulted on the network’s current it infrastructure and mapped out the upgrade, and Tara Whitney from Whitney Consulting, worked closely with the RRR Network’s executive team to put the application together.
“When we learnt of the Lotterywest covid-19 relief opportunity for not-for-profits, we went straight to Tara to work with us to write the application. She is incredible at her job. Her ability to quickly articulate a funding case based on the deliverables we were hoping to achieve for our network was impressive and reassuring” said Sarah Lang, chair of the RRR Network.
The RRR Network has been connecting and representing the 265,000 rural, regional, and remote women of Western Australia for almost 25 years.
Originally, a reference group to the department of primary industry and regional development, the network’s mission has prioritised creating better outcomes for RRR women of Western Australia.
Today, they are a 4,000 strong and connected network of members, subscribers, and followers, including business owners, private and public sector workers, ranging across agriculture, tourism, health, mining, and other industries.
The RRR network will use the $103,800 towards reinstating a marketing and membership coordinator, other resources, and system upgrades to enable their organisation to continue to deliver core services in a new way in response to covid-19. This will support women in regional, remote, and rural communities to remain connected and resilient, reducing their isolation and supporting their mental health.
Contact:
Kendall Galbraith, CEO, The RRR Network of WA Inc.
0410 785 726 OR ceo@RRRnetwork.com.au