
APPLY TODAY!
THE Rural Woman is inviting women who would like to participate in a 8 Week Business Activation Program AND receive 12 months support to start or grow a business to apply for participation in Blooming THE Foundations of Business Program.
We are inviting you to submit an Application to THE Seed Scheme Program commencing 18th May 2020.
You can view the course outline for the Business Activation Program here.
Perhaps you have been looking for support to start your business or bring that big idea to life or get an enterprise that matters to you off the ground or increase your reach and impact and improve profitability, management and your business generally.
You will be given the opportunity to connect with like minded women in your community, in a POD of women who are sharing this journey and growing together.
THE Seed Scheme is one of the most exciting female-led projects in rural Australia and this is your chance to get involved!
Can we support you in your idea, enterprise or business for 1 full year?
So many courses and workshops and experiences are short lived – you get all hyped up and full of excitement and then the daily grind kicks in!
What if you could get that same buzz AND great support/advice/mentoring and skills development, week in week out – and receive full support for a whole year, to get you stability, certainty and confidence back into your growth.
Getting started – and keeping going can be a challenge and what we’ve learned from delivering support to thousands of rural women in the last 6 years, is that consistency is key to success!
AND, being surrounded by supportive women on a similar journey can also be hugely beneficial! Your POD will have up to 9 other women you will be able to support each other and grow together.
With the support of Blooming THE Foundations of Business, those challenges you face on a daily basis in business and life can be more easily identified early and overcome with ease.
Applications close: 10 May 2020, 5pm AEDT
8 week intensive begins: 21 May
Activation weekend will be held 12-14 June 2020
First POD Call: To be announced
COMPLETE Your Application TODAY To have a chance and securing your place in the Seed Scheme 2020!
To be eligible you must be willing to:
- Commit to the eight week intensive, as many of the online training as possible and all your POD gatherings
- Participate in THE Activation Weekend and give it 100%
- Sign an agreement to solidify your commitment to your growth and the growth of the other women in the POD
- Contribute $18/week for 12 months contribution for the partial scholarship you will receive.
- Do the work that’s required to get products/services ready to sell with our support
- Try new things
- Focus on doing what you love, being of service, profitability, and scalability

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
- Complete the online application form. You will be taken to this form when you click the ‘apply now’ button or it’s on this page too.
- Make a 2-3 minute VIDEO where you talk about:
- Your DREAM. Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?
- Your ideal customer
- Your ideal product or service. What do you want to sell?
- Your financial goal in the first 12 months of your business
- Why we should support you to grow/start your business.
Once you’ve made your video you’ll need to upload it to youtube or vimeo.
We’ve prepared an upload guide for you here.
Applications close Sunday 10th May 5pm AEDT
If successful you will receive
- Access to a 8 Week Business Activation Program, delivered Online (LIVE) which will help you build the foundations of your successful business and set you up to make the most of the next 12 months of support
- A fun Activation weekend shared with the POD, delivered online and also in-person focusing on planning, pitching and team building!
- Weekly LIVE online mentoring and training in business and technology
- Support from a dedicated POD Facilitator. The POD Facilitator helps you connect with fellow Members and develop a support network
- Access to an online platform giving you CONNECTION to your POD Members and other women in our community. You will have the ability to promote your events, business and activities within this platform.
- Access to a network of hundreds of rural women across the country who are also starting/running their own business.
- 24/7 access to hundreds of hours of recorded training videos in marketing, sales, financial management, product development, events, social media, mindset and business
- Connection to Networks who can support you in the realisation of your business and enterprise goals

Blooming THE Foundations of Business is ideal for women who are:
- Wanting to start a business (while still employed)
- Currently self-employed but want to take their business online
- Full of ideas but don’t know where to start
- Impacted by drought, fire, flood and COVID-19
- Wanting to make an extra $15,000-$55,000 per year doing what they love
- Interested in value adding an existing product
- Seeking off-farm income
- Have an existing business but have hit a ‘plateau’
- Are feeling overwhelmed with how to work ‘on’ their business
- Committed to their own development
- Confident in their skills but don’t know how to monetize them
- Wanting to take your knowledge/skills and turn it into a business
- Creative and want to turn their hobby into a business
- Experiencing isolation
- Nearing retirement and want to create something for the future
- Tech fearful, but willing to try
- Trying to start a business but not getting traction
- Dipping your toe into business and wanting to take it further.
We encourage ALL women who are ready to take action and get their idea into reality but we particularly encourage applications from women who are:
- Aged 55+
- Aged 18-25
- Indigenous
- Migrants or newly arrived
- Living in town/village or on farm
- Unemployed or under-employed.
APPLY to secure your place in THE Rural Woman Blooming Foundations of Business Program

To Understand How To Create THE BEST Application contact
For information please contact your POD Facilitator Cathryn Mahon.