Breaking barriers: Queensland’s mission to empower female entrepreneurs

Queensland is bridging the gap for female entrepreneurs, helping them unlock their business potential and fostering an environment of innovation.

Women possess a wealth of innovative ideas and business nous, but in the world of entrepreneurship they face significantly stronger headwinds than men.

Companies founded by women secure just 4 per cent of Australian start-up funding, despite research showing female-led enterprises have a better return on investment.

Alongside this capital chasm, women can struggle to earn recognition in male-dominated industries, grapple with the glass ceiling and the ‘maternal wall’ bias, and lack meaningful mentorship.

The Queensland Government is working to level the playing field, by supporting female-owned start-ups and scale-ups through its Accelerating Female Founders Program.

Gillian Gardiner, Executive Director Operations in the Queensland Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport, says systemic issues are at play.

“Our research and stakeholder consultation clearly showed the problem doesn’t sit with women. They are skilled, capable and creative. Government needs to assist them to overcome the barriers in their way,” Gillian says.

The program is designed to help women secure funding, build their business capability, and grow connections that will generate opportunities well into the future.

It looks a little different this year, after a shake-up prompted by extensive community consultation. 

“We did a deep dive into past programs and the challenges female founders are actually facing, and there was a mismatch, so we tailored the program to better suit their needs,” Gillian says.

Women are adaptable and resilient problem-solvers, who approach challenges with creativity and resourcefulness. They are likely to have a deep understanding of their target market, as they are often the primary consumers of products and services. This insight allows them to identify gaps in the market and develop innovative solutions that meet customers’ needs.

By investing in female founders, the Queensland Government is fostering an environment of innovation which can have a significant impact on the economy, unlocking the potential for job creation and economic growth.

“Queenslanders are known for our work ethic and our generosity of spirit, and women are an exemplar of that. They can give us an edge, and help distinguish Queensland in terms of an innovative, pragmatic, down-to-earth approach to solving some of our toughest problems,” Gillian says.

Grants of between $10,000 and $100,000 are available for applications targeting one of four categories: pre-accelerator and accelerator initiatives; start-up/scale-up business development acumen initiatives; mentoring and advocacy initiatives; and other tailored initiatives.

Gillian’s advice for applying is simple: get online and have a go.

“Read the program guidelines carefully to make sure this is the program for you, then don’t delay - put your application in,” she says.



“We are committed to empowering female entrepreneurs in Queensland and getting them the resources they need to succeed.”