News Archives

Rural Aid Urges Outback Queensland Farmers to Register Now as Locust Threat Intensifies

Posted on 27 August 202527 August 2025

Rural Aid is encouraging farmers across Outback Queensland to register early for assistance, as locust outbreaks continue to damage pasture and raise serious concerns about the potential for a major plague – the first in Queensland in more than two decades.

Millions of locusts have already been reported across parts of western Queensland. With favourable breeding conditions forecast ahead of summer, farmers are bracing for a possible escalation that could put further strain on already hard-hit rural communities.

“This is a stressful time for many farmers, particularly those still recovering from this year’s devastating floods,” said Rural Aid CEO John Warlters. “The locust threat is very real, and it’s adding to an already heavy mental and emotional load.”

Rural Aid is encouraging farmers to register now to access the support services they may need in the weeks and months ahead.

“Rural Aid is ready to stand alongside farmers as this situation develops,” Mr Warlters said. “Registering early means we can respond faster and provide meaningful support when it’s needed most.”

Rural Aid offers free and confidential counselling services delivered by experienced mental health professionals who understand the pressures of rural life. To ensure continued, localised support, Rural Aid is also recruiting a full-time counsellor to be based permanently in Western Queensland.

Alongside mental health support, registered farmers can access a range of services including:

Financial assistance to help manage household expenses
Emergency hay and drinking water deliveries
Help from skilled volunteers through the Farm Army
Long-term recovery and community wellbeing programs

“Rural Aid’s services are available now, and we encourage farmers to reach out early,” Mr Warlters said. “You don’t have to wait until things get worse – registering with Rural Aid means you’ll have support behind you, whatever happens next.”

Registering for Assistance:

Farmers already experiencing locust activity, and those concerned about the evolving threat, are encouraged to register with Rural Aid today via www.ruralaid.org.au/services-provided/ or by calling 1300 327 624.

About Rural Aid:
Rural Aid is Australia’s leading rural charity, dedicated to providing practical support and vital services to farmers and rural communities. Since its establishment in 2015, the charity has been a lifeline during times of crisis, delivering essential services such as mental health support, hay, domestic water, and community engagement. As the organisation celebrates 10 years of service, it continues to partner with farmers to navigate challenges, recover from hardship, and build stronger, more resilient futures, shaping a brighter future for rural Australia.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Daniel Brown
Media and Communications Officer
0447 116 757
daniel.brown@ruralaid.org.au

Rural Aid Mobilises Support for Beekeepers Amid Growing Varroa Mite Threat

Posted on 21 August 202521 August 2025

As the destructive Varroa mite continues to spread, now confirmed in beehives in Victoria’s Gippsland region, Rural Aid is urging beekeepers and all primary producers affected by the outbreak to access the vital support services available through the charity.

The detection of the Varroa mite, a parasitic pest that attacks honeybees, poses a significant threat to Australia’s beekeeping industry, the agricultural sector, and the nation’s food supply chain. With pollination critical to the productivity of crops like almonds, apples, berries, and many vegetables, the ripple effect of this biosecurity issue extends well beyond apiaries.

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters acknowledged the serious threat posed by the Varroa mite outbreak and confirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting impacted beekeepers as well as the broader farming community.

“Bees are our littlest livestock, but they are essential to the health of many Australian farms and food industries,” said Mr Warlters.

“The Varroa mite threatens not only honey but the pollination that underpins our crops and fruit production. Protecting beekeepers is protecting the entire food chain.

Rural Aid provides a range of free, confidential and practical support services to farmers and producers across the country, including:

Financial assistance
Counselling and wellbeing check-ins
Domestic water and water tank deliveries
Hay donations
Farm army job platform
Educational resources
Community building initiatives

Rural Aid’s support isn’t limited to traditional broadacre or livestock producers. The charity proudly assists farmers across a wide range of industries, including aquaculture, horticulture, viticulture, organic production, dairying and apiary operations. These sectors often fly under the radar but are essential to Australia’s food security, export success, and regional economies. The Varroa mite situation highlights just how vulnerable every part of the agricultural system can be, regardless of size or commodity.

Rural Aid is committed to ensuring all primary producers know they are eligible for support and that they don’t have to navigate these challenges alone.

“At Rural Aid, we believe no primary producer should be left to struggle in silence,” Mr Warlters said.

“No matter what you grow, farm or produce, if you’re doing it tough, we’re here to help.”

Registering for Assistance:

Primary producers impacted by the Varroa mite outbreak, or facing hardship for any reason, are encouraged to register with Rural Aid today via www.ruralaid.org.au/services-provided/ or by calling 1300 327 624.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Daniel Brown
Media and Communications Officer
0447 116 757
daniel.brown@ruralaid.org.au

Rural Aid Calls for Volunteers to Help Flood-Hit Wingham Farmers Recover

Posted on 21 August 202521 August 2025

Rural Aid is calling out for volunteers from across the country to lend a hand at its upcoming Farm Recovery Event (FRE) in Wingham, New South Wales, from 7 – 13 September 2025.

Wingham, located on the NSW Mid North Coast, was left devastated by record-breaking floods in late May. Rural Aid will be on the ground in September, helping farmers rebuild their lives, properties, and livelihoods.

The charity is urging individuals, community groups, and businesses to sign up and be part of a rewarding week of giving back, connection and community.

“This is one of the best ways you can make a direct impact in disaster recovery,” said Rural Aid’s Farm Recovery and Community Event Coordinator, Dave Thiele. “Volunteers are the heartbeat of these events – they bring energy, compassion, and practical support to farmers who’ve been doing it tough.”

Volunteers don’t need any specific skills or experience to take part. Over the course of the week, they’ll help fix fences, restore damaged infrastructure, clear debris, maintain gardens and yards, and most importantly, offer vital companionship to farmers.

“Our volunteers often tell us the time spent sitting on the veranda having a cuppa with a farmer is just as important as the physical work,” Mr Thiele added. “That human connection is part of what makes these events so special.”

Volunteers come from all walks of life and travel from all corners of Australia to take part. Many return again and again.

Neville Leclere, a recent first-time volunteer at the Coraki, NSW Farm Recovery Event in July, shared how much the experience meant to him.

“I’ve always wanted to be a volunteer in this type of work, and I’d never had the opportunity to do it until now,” Mr Leclere said.

“We had a great bunch of volunteers, and it was fantastic working alongside the farmers. The community really welcomed us – they loved having us there. Getting together each night for dinner made it a really good social event, and I’ll definitely be back for sure.”

Rural Aid also encourages businesses to consider FREs as an impactful corporate volunteering opportunity.

“These events are a fantastic way to get staff out of the office and into the community,” said Mr Thiele. “They offer a meaningful team-building experience while making a real difference to regional Australia.”

Volunteers are encouraged to register their interest online at www.ruralaid.org.au/volunteers.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Daniel Brown
Media and Communications Officer
0447 116 757
daniel.brown@ruralaid.org.au

Rural Aid Launches Appeal to Safeguard the Next Generation of Aussie Farmers

Posted on 18 August 202518 August 2025

Rural Aid has launched a powerful new fundraising campaign to secure the future of rural Australia by supporting the next generation of farmers — the children growing up on the land today.

These children are not only the future of their family farms, but also the future custodians of Australia’s food supply. Right now, many are facing significant challenges. From natural disasters to financial stress, country kids often grow up surrounded by uncertainty, with the weight of the farm’s future on their young shoulders.

Rural Aid is raising funds to provide both immediate and long-term support for country kids and their families. Donations will help deliver practical support including hay, domestic water, financial assistance, specialist counselling services, and continued delivery of Rural Aid’s Mustering Growth program — a school-based mental health and wellbeing initiative designed to build resilience and emotional strength in rural students.

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said the campaign is about much more than providing short-term support.

“If we want to keep young people on the land, we must support them now and from an early age. These kids are growing up in incredibly trying circumstances, but they are also the future of farming in this country,” Mr Warlters said.

“Many of our farms are passed down through generations. When we nurture country kids, when we support their wellbeing, confidence and connection to community, we’re not just helping them today. We’re safeguarding rural Australia’s future.”

For families like Danny and Erin Hutchinson, cattle and cropping farmers from Biddon, NSW, the value of support is deeply felt. Their children — Amelia (8), Ali (6) and Lockie (3) — are growing up with plenty of space to explore, but also with the stress of drought and financial strain close to home.

“We’re just so grateful for the support we received from Rural Aid,” said Ms Hutchinson. “It made a real difference, not just to the farm, but to our whole family’s wellbeing.”

Recent Rural Aid research highlights the scale of the challenge:

41% of farming parents are most concerned about financial stability and meeting their child’s basic needs
57% believe rural children need access to tailored mental health support
83% of farming families have used or would use Rural Aid’s counselling services

The campaign aims to ensure country kids have the support, skills and confidence they need to grow into strong, capable adults who can carry their communities, and the farming sector, into the future.

To help secure the future of our country kids and Australian farming, donate today at www.countrykids.ruralaid.org.au.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Daniel Brown
Media and Communications Officer
0447 116 757
daniel.brown@ruralaid.org.au

No End in Sight: Rural Aid Ramps Up Support as South Australian Drought Persists

Posted on 11 August 202511 August 2025

Recent rainfall across parts of South Australia has offered some welcome relief to farming communities, but the drought’s grip is far from broken. With recovery expected to take months — if not years — Rural Aid continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with those doing it tough, providing essential support through this prolonged crisis.

While the recent showers have delivered some temporary relief, they have not been enough to reverse the deep, long-term damage caused by prolonged drought conditions. Rural Aid remains a constant presence on the ground, continuing to provide hay, water, financial aid and mental health support to those who need it most.

In the past 12 months alone, Rural Aid has delivered into South Australia.

More than 6,000 bales of hay provided to nearly 450 farmers
Over 3.5 million litres of drinking water
Financial assistance to more than 240 farmers
1,088 volunteer hours to support 8 farms in Eudunda
Community development support for William Creek

The drought has also extended into Southwest New South Wales and Western Victoria, and Rural Aid has expanded its support accordingly, ensuring help reaches farming families across a widening crisis zone.

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said the scale of the need is sobering, and that the charity’s long-term commitment to farmers is what sets it apart.

“This isn’t just about responding to a disaster and moving on. Rural Aid is in it for the long haul,” Mr Warlters said.

“We’re showing up month after month with practical help — hay, water, tanks, financial assistance — but just as importantly, we’re showing up with heart. We know these communities, and we go back again and again to make sure farmers aren’t doing it alone.”

Based in Quorn, Rural Aid’s South Australian counsellor Dorothy Crosby has been travelling the state providing vital mental health support to families under pressure.

“The farmers I speak to are tired. Not just physically, but emotionally. They’re trying to keep businesses going, families supported, and the land alive, all without the rain they desperately need,” Ms Crosby said.

“What really makes a difference is having someone who listens, understands the challenges farmers face, and offers ongoing support. Rural Aid is committed to standing alongside them through the toughest times.”

Rural Aid’s counselling services are free and confidential, provided by qualified professionals who understand the unique pressures of farming life. The charity’s ongoing presence in rural communities, long after headlines fade, is a vital lifeline to many.

How You Can Help

Australians are urged to dig deep and support our farmers doing it tough. Donations can be made at www.ruralaid.org.au or by calling 1300 327 624.

Every dollar counts in helping deliver hay, water, and critical mental health services to the heart of Australia’s food bowl.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Daniel Brown
Media and Communications Officer
0447 116 757
daniel.brown@ruralaid.org.au