Help
Women and Gender-Diverse Musicians
Networks, grants, mentoring, safety programs and festivals for women and gender-diverse musicians and music workers in Sydney, NSW and Australia.
At A Glance
$2,500Tone Shift microfund for gear, studio time or performance equipment
$5,000The Lighthouse Award, for a woman or gender-diverse artist manager
10 OctEQUALIZE, a free full day of songwriting and production workshops in Sydney
1Networks and Communities
Women In Music Australia (WIMA)National community, started in Sydney
- WhatWomen In Music Australia is a grassroots, not for profit community for women and gender-diverse people working in music. It began as Women In Music Sydney in 2013 and became a national organisation in 2023.
- WhoIt is open to women and gender-diverse musicians and music workers at any career stage.
- HowPeople find events, mentorship opportunities and meetups through WIMA's Facebook and Instagram pages.
- Linkthemusicnetwork.com
SoundGirlsGlobal network for women in audio
- WhatSoundGirls is an international community for women and gender-expansive people working in professional audio, including live sound, recording and production.
- WhoIt supports audio engineers, producers and other audio professionals, including members with disabilities and neurodivergent members.
- HowMembership gives access to mentoring, workshops, panels and job resources through local chapters. No Sydney chapter is listed on the SoundGirls site, so musicians here connect through the global community and online resources.
- Linksoundgirls.org
2Grants and Funding
Tone ShiftUp to $2,500 microfund, NSW
- WhatTone Shift is a MusicNSW microfund, delivered with Sound NSW, that provides up to $2,500 towards home recording gear, studio time or performance equipment.
- EligibilityApplicants must identify as a woman, trans, non-binary or gender non-conforming person, be 18 or over, hold an ABN, and have lived in NSW for at least 12 months as a practising contemporary music artist.
- HowApplications opened on 10 September 2026 and close on 31 October 2026, with outcomes announced in January 2027.
- Linkmusicnsw.com
The Lighthouse Award$5,000 grant for artist managers
- WhatThe Lighthouse Award is an APRA AMCOS grant of $5,000, established in memory of music manager Linda Gebar, for a woman or gender-diverse artist manager.
- EligibilityApplicants must identify as a woman or gender diverse, be 18 or over, live in Australia, and have experience managing artists.
- HowApplicants submit details of their management experience, written responses to the selection criteria and a budget for the grant. A peer review board chaired by APRA AMCOS assesses applications.
- Linkapraamcos.com.au
NSW Regional & Remote Women's Music ProgramFunded trip to the national awards
- WhatThis program, run by AWMA with support from Sound NSW, sends twelve women, gender-diverse and First Nations artists or music workers based in NSW to the Australian Women in Music Awards, with travel, accommodation and a daily allowance covered.
- WhoIt prioritises artists and music workers from regional NSW and Western Sydney.
- HowApplications open through the AWMA website. The 2025 round closed on 24 August 2025 and the program runs annually, so musicians should watch the AWMA site for the next round.
- Linkwomeninmusicawards.com.au
One of OneBusiness advisory, a grant and an accelerator
- WhatOne of One is an annual awards breakfast for women and gender non-conforming people in the music industry, with $10,000 of business advisory, a $5,000 Mushroom grant and a six month place in the Unified accelerator.
- WhoWomen and gender non-conforming people working across the music industry.
- HowOne of One runs annually, around March. Watch its site for the next round.
- Linkoneofone.com.au
3Mentoring and Skills
23% MentorshipSix month mentorship plus $3,000
- WhatThe 23% Mentorship pairs emerging women and gender-diverse APRA AMCOS members with an industry mentor for six months and provides AU$3,000 towards projects, work expenses or travel.
- WhoIt is open to women and gender-diverse APRA AMCOS members at a pivotal career stage, based in Australia, the UK, Europe or North America.
- HowThe 2026 round opened on 14 April 2026 and closed on 3 May 2026. It runs annually, so musicians can watch the APRA AMCOS programs page for the next round.
- Linkapraamcos.com.au
EQUALIZEFree songwriting and production workshops
- WhatEQUALIZE is a series of free, full-day APRA AMCOS workshops covering songwriting and recording, including a session on turning a song idea into a demo.
- WhoIt is for women and gender-diverse music creators who are APRA AMCOS members, with gender diversity described by APRA AMCOS as including non-binary, trans, gender non-conforming and other non-cis male gender expressions.
- HowThe Sydney workshop runs on Saturday 10 October 2026 from 9:45am to 4:30pm. People register through the Eventbrite link on the APRA AMCOS page.
- Linkapraamcos.com.au
SIMA: Young Women's Jazz WorkshopTwo day improvisation intensive, $190
- WhatA two day jazz improvisation intensive for young women and gender-diverse players and singers who read music, run by the Sydney Improvised Music Association and ending in a concert.
- WhoYoung women and gender-diverse instrumentalists and singers who read music.
- HowThe 2026 workshop ran 26 to 27 September. It runs annually, so watch the SIMA site for the next date.
- Linksima.org.au
4Safety and Industry Culture
Good Night OutVenue accreditation against harassment
- WhatGood Night Out is an accreditation program delivered by Full Stop Australia that trains licensed venues, bars and festivals to prevent and respond to sexual harassment and assault.
- How it worksVenues agree to a best practice policy, staff complete a two hour interactive workshop on recognising harassment, de-escalation and reporting barriers, and accredited venues display branded posters and a certificate.
- WhoIt is aimed at venues, promoters and festival organisers across Australia, including Sydney, rather than at individual musicians.
- Linkfullstop.org.au
Support Act: Sexual Misconduct, Bullying and Discrimination GuideFree reporting pathways
- WhatA free guide from Support Act setting out reporting pathways and where to get help for sexual misconduct, bullying and discrimination in music.
- WhoAnyone in music.
- HowRead the guide online, or call the Support Act Wellbeing Helpline on 1800 959 500, 24 hours a day.
- Linksupportact.org.au
5Festivals, Showcases and Radio
Sydney International Women's Jazz FestivalJazz festival for women and gender-diverse artists
- WhatThe Sydney International Women's Jazz Festival, produced by the Sydney Improvised Music Association, presents women and gender-diverse artists in jazz and improvised music.
- 2026The 15th festival runs from 22 to 31 October 2026 across Sydney venues, opening with Dee Dee Bridgewater at the State Theatre and featuring Australian and international artists.
- HowTickets and the full program are on the SIMA website.
- Linksima.org.au
TRANSGENREFestival for trans and non-binary artists
- WhatTRANSGENRE is a DIY festival celebrating trans and non-binary voices in Australian music. It began in Sydney at the Red Rattler Theatre and has since toured to other Australian cities.
- WhoIt platforms trans and non-binary musicians and includes stalls from LGBTQIA+ artists and a resource hub.
- HowDates and cities are announced through TRANSGENRE's Instagram and Linktree, with tickets through Moshtix or Humanitix.
- Linklinktr.ee
Australian Women in Music Awards (AWMA)National awards for women and gender-diverse artists
- WhatAWMA is a national awards program recognising women and gender-diverse artists, musicians and music practitioners across genres and industry roles, including First Nations and culturally diverse practitioners.
- 2026Nominations for the 2026 awards closed 22 June 2026, and finalists were announced in August 2026. The ceremony is in May 2027.
- HowNominations open on the AWMA website ahead of each year's awards and are free and self-nominated. NSW artists can also apply for the linked Regional & Remote Women's Music Program listed above.
- Linkwomeninmusicawards.com.au
GLOWRadio airplay and artist stories
- WhatGLOW plays new music from Australian and New Zealand artists, with a focus on female and gender-diverse artists, and publishes podcasts and artist stories.
- WhoAustralian and NZ artists, with a focus on female and gender-diverse artists.
- HowSubmit one song at a time through GLOW's submission page, free of charge.
- Linkglowmusic.co