National Women's Alliances

Funded by the Office for Women, the National Women’s Alliances play a key role in understanding the experiences and issues affecting women in Australia.

National Women’s Alliances Grant Opportunity

The National Women’s Alliances Grant Opportunity is now open for applications from 21 May 2024 to 3 July 2024.

Information Briefing

The Office for Women hosted an online Information Briefing for all potential applicants on 29 May 2024.

To find out more, visit Working for Women grant opportunities

How to apply for funding

To download the Grant opportunity Guidelines or to submit an application, visit GrantConnect

The National Women’s Alliances play a key role in understanding the experiences and issues affecting women in Australia. They ensure their voices are central in the policy development process.

Six National Women’s Alliances collaborate with the Office for Women and Government to inform policy and decision making on the following priority areas:

  • Women’s safety
  • Women’s economic security and leadership
  • Women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women
  • Women living in rural, regional and remote areas of Australia
  • Women with disability

The six National Women’s Alliances are funded by the Office for Women under the former Women’s Leadership and Development Program (WLDP), now known as the Working for Women Program. Further details on each Alliance and their work are below.

Evaluation of the National Women’s Alliances Model

In 2023, the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at The Australian National University was commissioned by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to assess the suitability of the National Women’s Alliances model, in partnership with the Office for Women. The evaluation report examines the model’s suitability as a vehicle for bringing women’s voices to the Australian Government and inform policy development.

To find out more, visit the Evaluation of the National Women’s Alliance

National Women's Safety Alliance

The National Women’s Safety Alliance (NWSA) unites a diversity of voices, expertise and experience to inform and guide national policy on women’s safety. NWSA connects the sector, experts, government, and victim-survivors with a shared vision to end violence against women. This is achieved through consultation, research, and the collaborative development of expert policy advice to government.

To find out more, visit the National Women’s Safety Alliance website

Equality Rights Alliance

Equality Rights Alliance (ERA) is a network of non-government organisations and social enterprises. ERA and its members advocate for women’s rights, gender equality, affordable housing, women’s leadership and other government policy responses that support women’s diversity. ERA uses a range of methods to consult and engage with women from diverse life situations across Australia. It, works to bring their voices to policy makers to address issues of gender inequality.

To find out more visit the Equality Rights Alliance website

Harmony Alliance

Harmony Alliance provides a dedicated focus on the experiences and issues of migrant and refugee women in Australia. The principles of inclusion and representation are key to Harmony Alliance’s focus on enabling an effective voice for migrant and refugee women. They recognise the diversity of experiences in this significant and growing population in Australia. The Alliance empowers women to utilise their unique strengths. It provides evidence-based advice to policymakers and works collaboratively to inform the development of policy solutions that address systemic disadvantage.

To find out more visit the Harmony Alliance website

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women's Alliance

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Alliance (NATSIWA) empowers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to have a stronger voice in the domestic and international policy advocacy process. In particular, the Alliance promotes the views and voices of women from marginalised and disadvantaged groups that have in the past found it difficult to engage in advocacy and decision making.

To find out more visit The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Alliance website

The National Rural Women's Coalition

The National Rural Women's Coalition (NRWA) provides a collaborative voice for women living in rural, remote and regional Australia. It represents a broad range of women, including those in regional towns, primary production, professional and businesswomen, Indigenous, young and elderly women. The organisation offers policy advice to government on matters relevant to the views and circumstances of rural women.

To find out more visit the National Rural Women's Coalition website

Women With Disabilities Australia

Women with Disabilities Australia (WWDA) represents women, feminine identifying and non-binary people with disabilities in Australia. WWDA seeks to support and empower individuals. It also creates greater awareness among governments and other relevant institutions about issues relating to women’s civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

To find out more visit the Women With Disabilities Australia website