Two south-west teenagers will meet inspiring women on a ‘Power Trip’ to Canberra.
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Brauer College’s Vanisre Rajasegaran, 17, and Mercy Regional College’s Hanna Whytcross, 17. have been selected to represent Victoria on the Country to Canberra program, alongside 16 other students from around the country, after writing essays that focus on rural diversity and leadership.
Ms Rajasegaran said her selection was a surprise given her entry was written the night before it was due.
“Thanks to Country to Canberra I researched about how rural women needed to be empowered,” she said.
“This program has opened my eyes to something that I would have never researched.”
Ms Whytcross is hoping to meet with agricultural ministers and other female leaders in Canberra.
“Agriculture has an image issue, if you’re a women you get paid less,” Ms Whytcross said.
“We need to bring it into the school curriculum so that young girls can move into this industry when they leave school.”
Both girls are hoping to have discussions about issues such as the gender pay gap and how to empower rural women.
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