Abstract

Hardship experienced today in establishing and maintaining rural viability in the face of difficult climatic and economic conditions in rural and remote areas of Australia suggests that the experiences of graduate rural women might have significant bearing on future directions in that context. The stages of becoming and being graduate rural women in professional practice and in everyday life evidence the research participants'introspective appreciation of the impact and import of their university education in the development and application of their professional skills. Six core concepts emerging from the data contribute to the findings of the study.