Amy Vickers has been named the 2026 Tasmanian winner of the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award for her work supporting women in defence, emergency services and volunteer response roles.
A former member of the Australian Navy with 26 years of service, Vickers founded Well Beyond Service, a program aimed at helping women navigate the pressures that can come with careers in frontline and service-based professions.
The program focuses on women working in areas such as the defence forces, emergency services and volunteer emergency organisations, with support centred around connection, wellbeing and leadership.
As the Tasmanian winner, Vickers receives a $15,000 grant from Westpac and will represent the state at the national awards event at Parliament House in Canberra on 8 September.
Tasmania’s Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Gavin Pearce, said Vickers’ work had made a strong contribution to Tasmania’s rural and regional communities.
He said the award has spent more than 25 years recognising the role women play across rural industries, businesses and local communities, while also encouraging more women to take on leadership positions.
The AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award is held annually across Australia and highlights women leading projects that support regional industries and communities.
While the award often focuses on agriculture and farming, recipients have increasingly come from a wider range of sectors linked to regional life, including health, education, community services and emergency response.
Applications for the 2027 award program are expected to open in early September.
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