Registrations are now open for the annual Rural Women’s Gathering on Saturday, 25 October 2025 in Lismore. Organised with support from the Rural Women’s Network, the theme for this year’s program is ‘Connect to the Heart’.
The Gathering, held at the Lismore Quadrangle, will showcase a diverse program that includes inspirational talks, entertainment, writing and AI workshops, music, arts, local businesses and catering and community vendors.
The Minns Government says it’s investing $30,000 towards this event to encourage women from across regional, rural and remote NSW to get together, to connect and learn.
Speakers include
- Keynote speaker: Shanna Whann, Founder and CEO of Sober in the Country, spokesperson, and 2022 Australia’s Local Hero.
- Guest speaker: Madeleine West, Partner of Safe on Social, Logie-nominated actor, bestselling author, and co-creator of the podcast Predatory.
- Master of Ceremony and speaker: Lissie Turner, CEO of The Prana Project, therapist, and advocate for change.
Tickets are $85 for the program, including lunch. A full weekend of activities has been planned from Friday 24 October to Sunday 26 October so that attendees can stay and enjoy Lismore for the whole weekend.
This event is set to help boost the local tourism economy on the North Coast which has been affected by the impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and recent floods.
The Rural Women’s Gathering has been held annually around different regional and rural towns in NSW for more than 30 years. It’s an opportunity for the host town to showcase the strength of their community, their region, culture, talent and attractions to women who attend from all corners of the state.
You can learn more about the Rural Women’s Gathering at the Rural Women’s Gathering webpage.
Exciting event
Minister for Regional New South Wales Tara Moriarty said, ‘Congratulation to Lismore on hosting such an exciting event.
‘The committee have done a great job of putting together this program of festivities and I really encourage people to get out there and visit the Northern Rivers region,’ she said.
‘Women in our regional communities are doing extraordinary things and the Rural Women’s Gathering provides a great opportunity to share their experiences, and in turn help other women to better support their communities.’
Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said, ‘The Rural Women’s Gathering has a great history and is a staple of the Rural Women’s Network calendar. It’s a fantastic opportunity for women from regional, rural and remote New South Wales to make friends, find new connections, and learn from each other as well as expert guest speakers.
‘Each year brings something different, and I am excited to meet talented and exceptional women from across the state, embodying the essence of each of their country towns.
“I encourage women from regional, rural and remote areas in New South Wales to show your support for regional women and the community in Lismore and come along to what is going to be an exciting event.’
Welcome
Minister for the North Coast, Janelle Saffin said, ‘This will be a great event, and I’m so glad that we will have the privilege of welcoming so many wonderful women to our Lismore community.
‘I want to thank Lismore Council for the contribution they’ve made, and it’s great that we get to host so many fantastic people from all around the state.’
Mayor for Lismore, Steve Krieg said, ‘I look forward to welcoming the NSW Rural Women’s Gathering to Lismore, which plays an important role in regional communities. It is a privilege to host the Gathering and I am sure they will enjoy their time here.’
‘This is a wonderful opportunity for local women to network with like-minded women from other regional areas and share their experiences and skills.’
Keynote speaker, Shanna Whann said, ‘Most won’t know this, but Lismore and its surroundings were home to me in another life and hold some good memories. I am humbled to be invited back – and my goal as always – is to help equip others with a decade of extremely hard-earned experience from my alcohol harm advocacy through Sober in the Country by sharing our work around health, mental health, mateship, and social inclusion.
‘We survivors of hard times and catastrophes are uniquely bonded.’
You can register for the Lismore Gathering now at: www.nsw.gov.au/women-nsw/rural-womens-network/rural-womens-gathering.
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