ELLE Moyle is passionate about empowering women from rural and remote areas by providing them with financial literacy with a farming focus.
Dr Moyle is a familiar face locally, working as a district veterinarian for Agriculture Victoria and also runs her own sheep and beef property which she purchased three years ago.
She is currently working to bring a community workshop project to life, set to take place on May 13, 2021, where women can learn more about how to effectively run a farming business.
The event, to be held at Roxburgh House, is already booked out.
The idea for the community project began after she was nominated by a colleague for the National Rural Women’s Coalition (NRWC) scholarship.
The NRWC provides a collaborative voice for women living in rural, remote and regional Australia, and represents the diverse views of women helping to build a positive profile of their achievements and issues.
“A colleague of mine put me forward and it really interested me in the leadership development the scholarship offers,” Dr Moyle said.
Dr Moyle was one of 12 successful applicants and recently travelled to Canberra for a week to learn about developing leadership and governance skills.
“The week in Canberra was really good, we spent a few days on leadership training and a day in Parliament House – there were 12 women there, about two from each state,” she said.
Part of her scholarship was to introduce and develop a volunteer community project in her local area and she chose to centre this around financial literacy to help build the confidence of women in the district.
“I thought about the project before I came back (from Canberra), I’m really passionate about it and helping women in rural and remote areas,” Dr Moyle said.
“When I bought my property, I felt I didn’t have enough understanding and education around doing all the farm books, I sort of had to learn as I went.
“A lot of people, of any age, if they are starting and running a business, particularly a farming business, they can do with a bit of guidance to help build their confidence around finance.”
Dr Moyle said her project was all about trying to “strengthen” and “bring the community together”.
She hoped to engage rural women and provide a network for them going forward.
The event will showcase two guest speakers, who both call the Western District home, and will provide valuable knowledge and expertise to attendees.
“Jodie Brewster is an accountant from GJ Waters and Associates and Kate Tierney is a financial advisor from RSM Financial Services, both are local rural women and I’m very grateful they are donating their time to do a presentation on the night,” Dr Moyle said.
There was a limit of 40 people for the event which sold out in the first 24 hours, but she said there could be more workshops held in the future.
“I think I will get some feedback from the first event, if the demand is there to go again, I’d love to facilitate another workshop,” she said.
