Category: News

Connecting when it counts: Rural Aid encourages SA farmers to check in during Mental Health Week

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With Mental Health Week beginning this Saturday, 4 October, Rural Aid is encouraging South Australian farmers to take time to check in on their mental health and to reach out to those around them. This year’s theme for SA, Connecting When It Counts, highlights the importance of being there for others — especially in rural and remote communities.

Rural Aid’s South Australian-based counsellor, Dorothy Crosby, says connection is one of the most powerful ways to protect mental wellbeing in the bush.
 
“Life on the land can be incredibly rewarding, but also very isolating,” Ms Crosby said. “We know how quickly things can change — with weather, prices, family, even health. That’s why connection, especially in the hard moments, is so important. It doesn’t need to be complicated. Sometimes the right conversation at the right time can mean everything.”
 
Ms Crosby supports farmers across the state with free, confidential counselling, delivered by someone who understands rural life and the unique pressures farming families face.
 
“Checking in with a neighbour, sending a quick text, stopping for a cuppa — these small acts can create real change. You don’t have to wait for a crisis. Sometimes it’s about being present when it really matters.”
 
Rural Aid’s mental health and wellbeing program offers one-on-one counselling, wellbeing check-ins, and practical support to help farmers build emotional resilience. The program also offers community workshops and education to break down stigma around mental health.
 
World Mental Health Day will be held on Friday 10 October, providing an opportunity to talk openly about mental health and reduce the stigma that can prevent people from asking for help.
 
“Support is always available, and you don’t have to go it alone,” Ms Crosby said. “Connection isn’t just something nice to have — it’s a lifeline in tough times.”
 
South Australian farmers can access free and confidential Rural Aid counselling services by contacting:

“Connecting when it counts can change a life,” Ms Crosby said. “And Rural Aid is here to help, whenever you’re ready.”

About Rural Aid:
Rural Aid is Australia’s leading rural charity, committed to supporting farmers and rural communities through good times and tough. Since 2015, Rural Aid has been a vital lifeline in times of hardship, delivering practical assistance such as mental health counselling, hay, drinking water, and community connection initiatives. Now celebrating 10 years of service, the organisation continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with rural Australians, helping them overcome hardship, build resilience, and create stronger, more sustainable futures.

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

Empowered communities make stronger farmers: Rural Aid calls for connection in WA during Mental Health Week

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Rural Aid is encouraging Western Australian farmers and rural workers to focus on their wellbeing as Mental Health Week kicks off this Saturday, 4 October, with this year’s state-wide theme: Empowering Communities, Thriving Workforces.

The theme highlights the vital link between wellbeing and productivity, and Rural Aid is reminding farming families that strong rural communities are built on everyday acts of connection and care.
 
“Empowered communities are made up of people who look out for one another,” said Roger Hitchcock, Rural Aid’s WA-based counsellor. “When people feel supported and connected, they’re far more likely to thrive — on the farm, at home and in their broader community.”
 
Mr Hitchcock, who works across rural WA supporting farmers with free, confidential counselling, says mental health often takes a back seat in the face of long work hours, isolation and constant uncertainty.
 
“We know farmers are some of the most resilient people around. But that doesn’t mean they’re invincible. Mental health matters just as much as physical safety or financial planning. Taking time to talk, check in or slow down can make a real difference.”
 
Rural Aid’s mental health and wellbeing program is specifically designed for rural Australians. It includes one-on-one counselling with qualified professionals, wellbeing check-ins, resilience workshops, and localised community support.
 
World Mental Health Day, held globally on Friday 10 October, further encourages people to reach out, reduce stigma and build community support for those experiencing mental health challenges.
 
“Looking after your mental health isn’t about making huge changes overnight,” Mr Hitchcock said. “It’s about doing small, meaningful things — and knowing that help is available when you need it.”
 
WA farmers and rural workers can contact Rural Aid for free and confidential support:

“Even one conversation can shift someone’s whole day,” Mr Hitchcock added. “You don’t have to go through tough times alone. Rural Aid is here to walk alongside you.”

About Rural Aid:
Rural Aid is Australia’s leading rural charity, committed to supporting farmers and rural communities through good times and tough. Since 2015, Rural Aid has been a vital lifeline in times of hardship, delivering practical assistance such as mental health counselling, hay, drinking water, and community connection initiatives. Now celebrating 10 years of service, the organisation continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with rural Australians, helping them overcome hardship, build resilience, and create stronger, more sustainable futures.

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

“A one-two punch”: Rural Aid scales up support as locust crisis deepens in flood-hit Outback Queensland

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Farmers across Outback Queensland are bracing for another devastating blow, as swarms of locusts rip through more than 5.3 million hectares of pastureland — compounding the emotional and financial toll of this year’s catastrophic floods.

Rural Aid is actively supporting farmers across the region and standing ready to escalate its response, including hay deliveries, financial assistance, and mental health support as the situation worsens.
 
“This is a one-two punch for many farming families,” said Rural Aid CEO John Warlters
 
“Earlier this year, floodwaters destroyed homes, fences, feed, and infrastructure. Now, as farmers begin to rebuild, locusts are stripping paddocks bare and threatening the recovery.”
 
“Rural Aid is already delivering assistance to rural communities and is fully prepared to step up support in response to this unfolding locust crisis — but we need the public’s help to do it.”
 
Feed loss mounting — donations urgently needed to help provide support for farmers.
 
Locust swarms have now been confirmed across the Richmond, Winton, Longreach, Barcaldine and Flinders Regional Council areas, with widespread destruction reported across more than 5.3 million hectares of grazing land.
 
The Queensland Government has announced an additional $4.5 million for statewide locust control efforts, complementing the $1 million in recovery funding announced last month under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
 
“Rural Aid welcomes this funding,” said CEO John Warlters. “But we know from experience that Rural Aid will play a crucial role in supporting farmers before, during, and long after this disaster.”
 
“Locusts are destroying thousands of tonnes of natural feed and replacing that with hay is going to require significant support,” Mr Warlters said.
 
“Rural Aid stands ready to deliver, but to match the scale of what’s unfolding, we’re calling for urgent donations. Every truckload of hay we send is funded by generous Australians who want to keep our farmers going.”
 
Rural Aid’s support offering
 
Rural Aid is delivering a coordinated response across the region, with services including:

  • Hay deliveries to support livestock feed shortages
  • Financial assistance to help cover household and farm costs
  • Free mental health counselling from Rural Aid’s qualified rural counsellors
  • Volunteer assistance through the Farm Army
  • Long-term recovery and community wellbeing programs

To expand its support footprint, Rural Aid is also recruiting a full-time counsellor to be based permanently in Western Queensland.
 
“Farmers need to know they’re not alone in this,” Mr Warlters said. “We’re here. We’re ready. And we’ll respond with everything we’ve got — but we need Australians to stand with us and help make that happen.”
 
Farmers can register for support at www.ruralaid.org.au or by calling 1300 327 624.

To help provide assistance to farmers affected by the locust outbreak, visit www.ruralaid.org.au/donate.

About Rural Aid:
Rural Aid is Australia’s leading rural charity, committed to supporting farmers and rural communities through good times and tough. Since 2015, Rural Aid has been a vital lifeline in times of hardship, delivering practical assistance such as mental health counselling, hay, drinking water, and community connection initiatives. Now celebrating 10 years of service, the organisation continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with rural Australians, helping them overcome hardship, build resilience, and create stronger, more sustainable futures.

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

Photo credit: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-19/outback-locust-control-funding-queensland-graziers/105787162

Natural Disasters on the Rise – Rural Aid Responds as Farmers Face Increasing Pressure

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Australia is experiencing an unprecedented rise in the number and severity of natural disasters, with 70 events officially declared by the Australian Government in the 2024–25 financial year. In Queensland alone, all but one Local Government Area (LGA) recorded a declared natural disaster – a sobering statistic highlighting the increasing toll of a changing climate.

The economic impact has been immense. In the first half of 2025 alone, the Federal Treasury announced the cost of lost economic activity due to natural disasters to be estimated at $2.2 billion. A significant financial and emotional burden of these disasters falls on farmers and rural communities.
 
As the pressure mounts, Rural Aid has been working around the clock to support primary producers with a suite of essential services – from emergency assistance to long-term mental health support.
 
“We’re seeing disasters hitting more often, and hitting harder,” said Rural Aid CEO John Warlters.
 
“It’s pushing farmers and their families to breaking point. At Rural Aid, we’re consistently delivering hay, household water, financial assistance and recovery support right across the country.”
 
Over the past year, Rural Aid has responded to disasters including droughts, bushfires, floods, and storms. The organisation’s support has included:

  • Hay drops to feed livestock
  • Deliveries of clean household water and water tanks
  • Farm recovery programs and volunteer rebuilds
  • Financial assistance for urgent needs
  • Community building initiatives to build local economic resilience
  • Access to mental health and wellbeing services for farmers and families

The mental health impacts are severe and growing. Natural disasters, combined with the ongoing pressures of rural life, are leaving many producers in a state of chronic stress.
 
“A ten-minute hailstorm can wipe out a year’s worth of work and income,” Mr Warlters said.
 
“Our farmers live with constant uncertainty. Their livelihoods depend on the weather – and that’s becoming less predictable by the day.”
 
Rural Aid remains a steadfast partner before, during and after disasters, but the charity’s work also extends well beyond natural crises. Farmers face a range of ongoing challenges – from market volatility and succession pressures, to isolation and limited access to services – that require year-round support.
 
With the annual cost of natural disasters in Australia projected to reach at least $73 billion by 2060, according to Deloitte modelling, the demand for Rural Aid’s services is growing rapidly.
 
“We can’t keep up with demand without the support of everyday Australians and generous businesses,” Mr Warlters said.
 
“We rely on donations to keep delivering our services. Every dollar makes a real difference on the ground.”
 
To donate or find out more, visit www.ruralaid.org.au.

About Rural Aid:
Rural Aid is Australia’s leading rural charity, committed to supporting farmers and rural communities through good times and tough. Since 2015, Rural Aid has been a vital lifeline in times of hardship, delivering practical assistance such as mental health counselling, hay, drinking water, and community connection initiatives. Now celebrating 10 years of service, the organisation continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with rural Australians, helping them overcome hardship, build resilience, and create stronger, more sustainable futures.

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

Winning Photos Capture Heart and Soul of the Bush

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Rural Aid is proud to announce the winners of its sixth annual Spirit of the Bush Photography Competition, a celebration of the resilience, beauty and community spirit that define rural Australia.

This year’s competition saw a record breaking response, with 201 entrants submitting 429 photos – nearly double the number received in 2024. Each image offers a glimpse into life on the land, showcasing everything from quiet moments of reflection to the vastness and harshness of the Australian landscape.

The ten winning images, each awarded a $250 prepaid Visa card, were selected for their ability to tell powerful stories through the lens. The photos reflect the realities of rural life – its challenges, triumphs and the deep connection people have with country and community.

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said the competition continues to reveal the stories that often go unseen.

“This year’s photos are a moving tribute to life outside the city limits. They tell stories of perseverance, pride and connection,” Mr Warlters said.

“There’s an authenticity to these images that resonates. Whether it’s a family working through drought, or a breathtaking sunrise over a remote property, the spirit of the bush shines through.”

Amy Ahchay from Calliope, Queensland captured the hearts of the judges with a candid image of local countrymen Rob and Gordon sharing a laugh over a cuppa in the paddock. “It’s a moment that sums up life in the bush,” says Amy. “Tough on the outside, but grounded in warmth, humour, and mateship.” A first-time entrant, Amy says being recognised is both humbling and a celebration of the stories that often go untold in rural Australia.

“I spotted Rob and Gordon deep in conversation across the paddock and just had to capture the moment. It was the perfect snapshot of bush life, two country larrikins, their horses, a cuppa, and a good laugh.”

“To me, this is what the spirit of the bush is all about. It’s raw, it’s real, but it’s also full of heart. Mateship, storytelling, and that unshakable sense of connection that ties rural communities together.”

“This was my first time entering, and it’s very exciting to be part of something that celebrates country life.”

The winning images will feature across Rural Aid’s campaigns, publications and social media, helping raise awareness of life in the bush and the people who call it home.

Rural Aid is encouraging photographers to consider becoming volunteer content creators by donating their images. These photos are essential to Rural Aid’s fundraising and awareness work.

Photographers who would like to get involved can message Rural Aid directly on its social media channels.

List of winners
 
Tamara Ward, Two-time winner, Tincurrin, WA
Inge Gajczak, Two-time winner, Pittsworth, QLD
Wendy Tan, Allora, QLD
Erika Smart, Erina, NSW
Amy Ahchay, Calliope, QLD
Jenny Sant, Young, NSW
Tim Bateup, Goondiwindi, QLD
Karen Leibinger, Springsure, QLD

About Rural Aid:
Rural Aid is Australia’s leading rural charity, committed to supporting farmers and rural communities through good times and tough. Since 2015, Rural Aid has been a vital lifeline in times of hardship, delivering practical assistance such as mental health counselling, hay, drinking water, and community connection initiatives. Now celebrating 10 years of service, the organisation continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with rural Australians, helping them overcome hardship, build resilience, and create stronger, more sustainable futures.

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