Country Women's Association

What Country Women's Association does

The Country Women's Association of New South Wales (CWA of NSW) is a non-profit membership organization founded in 1922 and headquartered in Mascot, NSW, that supports women, children, and communities across regional, rural, and remote New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. It is the largest women's organization in Australia, with approximately 8,000 members organized across 340+ local branches and 29 groups, meeting monthly for community connection, handicrafts, cultural activities, fundraising, and policy advocacy.

Its core products are membership access (annual subscription at $50, with discounted student, junior, and mid-year tiers), the bi-monthly The Country Woman journal (average circulation 7,514 as of September 2025), an online shop selling cookbooks, tea towels, and branded merchandise, an Annual Women's Survey used for evidence-based policy advocacy, and the iconic CWA Tea Room at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, which has operated for 75+ years and serves as the organization's largest annual fundraiser, generating approximately $160,000 annually. In 2024 the organization expanded its product surface with four co-working spaces in Canowindra, Dorrigo, Trangie, and Walgett.

The business model combines recurring subscription revenue (membership fees and journal inclusion), transaction-based revenue (shop sales and Tea Room food/beverage sales at the Easter Show), donations, and a Disaster Relief Fund. Distribution is community-led through the branch network, supplemented by an e-commerce website, social media (Facebook, X/Twitter), and an annual State Conference with 600+ delegates. Technology is conventional and limited to a SecurePay-secured e-commerce stack, with no proprietary technology product, app, or API. The organization sustains a core partnership ecosystem — most notably a 30-year alliance with Rural Doctors Network, secretariat role in the 21-member RRRCC coalition, and joint advocacy with BIRRR — to influence policy on health, telecommunications, infrastructure, and economic participation in regional and remote NSW.

Name

Country Women's Association

Legal name

Country Women's Association of New South Wales

Website

https://cwaofnsw.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Country Women's Association of NSW is a 100-year-old non-profit, non-partisan membership organization — the largest women's group in Australia — that supports women, children, and communities across regional, rural, and remote New South Wales and the ACT through 340+ local branches, advocacy, fundraising, and the iconic Sydney Royal Easter Show Tea Room.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Women's Advocacy and Community Membership Organization

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Gender Equality & Women’s Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment (BPAGABAF)

Keywords

• Women's advocacy organization
• Community membership network
• Nonprofit policy advocacy
• Regional community support
• Membership fundraising events

Headquarters

HQ city

Mascot

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees: $50.00 per year (2025/2026), $39.25 for full-time students aged 18-25, $28.50 for new members joining after 31 March 2026, $1.00 per year for junior members under 18.
2. Shop Sales: Online shop selling merchandise including cookbooks, tea towels, merchandise items, centenary products. Products include books ($17-$49), merchandise ($2-$40), and bulk items for branches.
3. Sydney Royal Easter Show Tea Room: CWA Tea Room at Sydney Royal Easter Show has been running for 75+ years, selling Devonshire Teas and other items. Major annual fundraiser generating approximately $160,000 annually from thousands of scones and food sales.
4. The Country Woman Journal: Official publication of CWA of NSW published six times per year, with average circulation of 7,514 as at 30 September 2025. Members receive the journal as part of membership.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Country Women's Association of NSW is a nonprofit membership organisation providing community connection, policy advocacy, fundraising, and social engagement for women across NSW and ACT through over 340 local branches. It sells memberships, runs the Sydney Royal Easter Show Tea Room as its primary fundraiser, publishes the bi-monthly The Country Woman journal, operates an online retail shop of branded merchandise and cookbooks, conducts an annual Women's Survey to inform policy advocacy, and provides co-working spaces in regional communities.

Product overview

The Country Women's Association of NSW is a membership-based advocacy and community organization offering membership access to over 340 local branches, The Country Woman Journal (bi-monthly publication with 7,514 circulation), an online retail shop selling cookbooks and logo merchandise, an Annual Women's Survey for policy research, co-working spaces in regional areas, and the iconic Tea Room at the Sydney Royal Easter Show as its primary fundraiser.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CWA of NSW Membership Annual membership organisation for women in NSW and ACT providing community connection, networking, advocacy, fundraising, and policy participation through more than 340 local branches and 29 groups, with annual fees ranging from AUD $1 for juniors to AUD $50 for standard members.
• The Country Woman Journal Official bi-monthly publication of the CWA of NSW, published six times per year (February, April, June, August, October and December) with average circulation of 7,514 as at 30 September 2025 and included as part of membership.
• CWA of NSW Online Shop Direct-to-consumer online retail store selling CWA branded cookbooks (AUD $17-$49), tea towels (AUD $7-$12), Frank Green Cups (AUD $40), merchandise such as stickers (AUD $2-$5) and aprons, badges, and bulk cookbook boxes (AUD $540-$652), with payment processing via SecurePay gateway.
• Annual Women's Survey Annual research survey gathering data on women's lived experiences across NSW, with focus areas including health, safety, housing, finance, infrastructure, education, and empowerment in regional, rural, and remote areas, used to inform policy advocacy.
• CWA Tea Room at the Sydney Royal Easter Show Iconic tea room operating during the Sydney Royal Easter Show serving Devonshire teas, scones, and other refreshments; the largest annual fundraiser generating approximately AUD 160,000 from thousands of scones and food sales, supported by 250+ volunteers and major sponsors including Manildra, Madura Tea, Pace Farm Eggs, Sunshine Sugar, Nestle, and Pepe Saya.
• Co-Working Spaces Dedicated co-working spaces opened in 2024 in Canowindra, Dorrigo, Trangie, and Walgett, available to members and the regional community for remote working, training, education, information sessions, and networking opportunities.
• Cookbooks and Recipe Books Published cookbooks including 'The Women who Changed Country Australia' history book, 'Everything I Know About Cooking I Learned from CWA', and 'Jam Drops and Marble Cake' competition recipes; also available in bulk box sets (AUD $540-$652) for branches and fundraising.
• 100 Year Commemorative Items Centenary commemorative products celebrating the 1922-2022 anniversary of the association, including the 100 Year Badge and other commemorative merchandise sold through the online shop.

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual Women's Survey with 750+ respondents providing policy insights
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rural Doctors NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 May 202630-year partnership with Rural Doctors Network (RDN) marking milestone anniversary in 2026. RDN CEO Richard Colbran opened the 2026 State Conference. CWA has supported RDN with bush bursaries for 30 years, working together to advocate on health service issues for remote, rural, and regional areas. RDN delivers programs and products to improve health and wellbeing in under-resourced areas.
• Rural, Regional and Remote Communications Coalition (RRRCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCWA of NSW is a member of RRRCC, an alliance of 21 organisations advocating for better telecommunications outcomes for people in rural, regional, and remote Australia. CWA CEO Danica Leys serves as RRRCC Secretariat.
• TelstraminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of 2026 State Conference, providing sponsor address during business sessions.
• Westfund Health InsuranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of 2026 State Conference, providing sponsor address during business sessions.
• SafeWork NSWminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of 2026 State Conference, providing sponsor address during business sessions.
• NRAR (Natural Resources Access Regulator)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of 2026 State Conference, providing sponsor address during business sessions.
• EnergyCominorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of 2026 State Conference, providing sponsor address during business sessions.
• NBNCominorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of 2026 State Conference, providing sponsor address during business sessions.
• RAMHP (Rural Adversity Mental Health Program)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of 2026 State Conference, providing sponsor address during business sessions.
• ManildraminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor of CWA Tea Room at Sydney Royal Easter Show, donating 2.5 tonnes of scone mix needed to produce an average of 4000 scones daily.
• Madura TeaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProud sponsor of the CWA Tea Room at Sydney Royal Easter Show.
• Pace Farm EggsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProud sponsor of the CWA Tea Room at Sydney Royal Easter Show.
• Sunshine SugarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProud sponsor of the CWA Tea Room at Sydney Royal Easter Show.
• NestleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProud sponsor of the CWA Tea Room at Sydney Royal Easter Show.
• Pepe SayaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProud sponsor of the CWA Tea Room at Sydney Royal Easter Show.
• Beerenberg JamsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonates a basket of treats for the association's Disaster Relief Fund raffle at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
• BIRRR (Better Internet for Rural, Regional and Remote Australia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint advocacy partnership with BIRRR to improve telecommunications and connectivity for rural, regional, and remote communities. CWA of NSW CEO Danica Leys and BIRRR Co-Founder Kristy Sparrow collaborate on emergency communications campaigns and policy advocacy.
• Regional Tech HubminorOthersFree independent resource funded by the federal government providing connectivity support. Referenced in emergency communications guidance as a resource for people to better understand their connectivity options.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Federation of Women's Institutes (NFWI): UK's largest women's voluntary organisation with a federated branch structure focused on education, advocacy, and community issues. Closely comparable to CWA of NSW in mission, branch structure, and rural women's focus, though at much larger UK-wide scale.
• Country Women's Association of Australia (national body): National peak body coordinating state-level CWA chapters including NSW. Functionally comparable to CWA of NSW as a women's rural advocacy organisation, though operating at federation rather than chapter level and serving all Australian states.

Direct peers

• Zonta International: Global service organisation of professionals advancing gender equality through advocacy, scholarships, and community projects. Comparable to CWA of NSW as a women's advocacy and service membership organisation with chapter-style clubs, though its membership skews professional rather than rural community.
• Soroptimist International: Global volunteer service organisation for women focused on education, empowerment, and advocacy. Operates a club-based membership model analogous to CWA's branch structure with similar advocacy and fundraising activities for women and girls.
• National Council of Women Australia: Australian umbrella organisation of women's groups advocating on gender equality, social policy, and community issues. Comparable to CWA of NSW in policy advocacy remit and women-focused mission, with national rather than state-level scope.

Regional players

• Country Women's Association of Victoria: State-level CWA chapter serving Victorian rural and regional women with branches, advocacy, and community programs. Closely comparable model to CWA of NSW, but operates in a different Australian state without direct geographic overlap.
• Country Women's Association of Queensland: Queensland CWA chapter running branches, advocacy, and rural women's programs. Operates the same chapter-and-membership model as CWA of NSW and is therefore structurally comparable, although its geographic focus is Queensland.
• Country Women's Association of Western Australia: WA state chapter providing branch-based community, advocacy, and fundraising for country women. Direct functional peer to CWA of NSW, serving a different Australian jurisdiction with the same membership-and-branch operating model.
• Country Women's Association of South Australia: South Australian CWA chapter delivering community, advocacy, and member services to country women. Mirrors CWA of NSW's chapter-based structure and advocacy mission within a separate Australian state.
• Country Women's Association of Tasmania: Tasmanian CWA chapter focused on rural women, community advocacy, and branch activities. Comparable membership model, scale, and rural advocacy remit to CWA of NSW, but serving a different state.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cwaofnsw
• Facebookfacebook.com/cwaofnsw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/country-women-s-association-of-nsw

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Country Women's Association