Category: News

Rural Aid Brings Relief to Eudunda Farmers as Drought Tightens Its Grip

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As the prolonged and punishing drought continues to plague South Australia, farming families in the Eudunda region are facing some of the toughest conditions in living memory. With dry paddocks, shrinking water supplies and the emotional weight of ongoing uncertainty, many are stretched to their limits.

To support these families, Rural Aid will deliver a Farm Recovery Event (FRE) in Eudunda from 15 to 21 June 2025, bringing a team of dedicated volunteers to help ease the pressure.
 
The week-long event will see volunteers assist local farmers with fencing repairs, yard and property maintenance, vegetation clearing and small-scale construction, helping restore safety, function and dignity to farm properties.
 
“The drought is unrelenting and the pressure on farming families is immense,” said John Warlters, CEO of Rural Aid. “This isn’t just about dry weather—this is about livelihoods, legacies and mental health. Many farmers are doing it tough, quietly and without complaint. We’re here to say: you’re not alone.”
 
The Farm Recovery Event is one of several Rural Aid initiatives aimed at supporting regional communities weathering the drought. Over the past 12 months, Rural Aid has delivered more than 2.6 million litres of fresh drinking water and 3,100 bales of hay to South Australian farmers, as well as ongoing mental health and financial support.
 
“Behind every bale of hay and every drop of water is the generosity of donors and partners who believe in supporting our rural communities,” Mr Warlters said. “We are incredibly grateful to those who continue to stand with the bush.”
 
More than just practical help, the FRE will also provide farmers with something equally important: connection. Volunteers bring not only skills and tools, but also understanding, compassion and a listening ear—small gestures that can have a lasting impact. The benefits of an FRE often ripple beyond the farm itself, strengthening the fabric of rural communities through shared support and solidarity. Past FREs have received heartfelt feedback from farmers who’ve spoken about the relief, encouragement and renewed hope these visits have brought—not just for their work, but for their wellbeing.
 
How to Support Rural Aid
 
Australians who want to support farmers can:

  • Donate at ruralaid.org.au/donate
  • Register to volunteer at future Farm Recovery Events visit ruralaid.org.au/volunteer

“Every act of support—whether it’s a donation, a conversation or a week spent volunteering—helps us continue this vital work,” Mr Warlters said. “Together, we can give farming families the strength to carry on.”

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 Shines a Light on the Women Behind the Farm Gate

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As part of its tax-time appeal, ‘No Farmer Stands Alone’, Rural Aid is shining a spotlight on the essential—but often overlooked—contributions of women in agriculture.

Women are the backbone of Australian farms—playing vital roles as labourers, decision-makers, carers, and community leaders. They face the same emotional and financial stressors as men, compounded by the added weight of often managing households and supporting others through crises.
 
Rural Aid’s Pulse of the Paddock survey found that 58% of farmers rated their mental health as average or worse, with 38% citing barriers to accessing support services for themselves and their families. For many rural women, those barriers are even more pronounced.
 
“Too often, when we think of a ‘farmer,’ we picture a man in a paddock—but women are deeply involved in every part of farming life,” said Myf Pitcher, Rural Aid’s Manager of Mental Health and Wellbeing. “They shoulder enormous responsibility—running farms, raising families, and guiding communities through disasters. Yet their mental health challenges are often invisible and unspoken.”
 
Alyce Parker, GWS Giants AFLW player and Rural Aid’s newest ambassador, knows these challenges firsthand. Raised on a farm in Holbrook, NSW, she understands the emotional toll rural life can take—especially on women.
 
“Growing up on the land taught me resilience, but it also showed me how isolating and relentless farming life can be,” Alyce said. “I’ve seen the pressure my mum and other rural women carry. They give everything to their families and farms but often put their own wellbeing last.”
 
“Rural women are strong, but strength doesn’t mean they shouldn’t get support. That’s why I’m proud to be part of Rural Aid—because they understand that connection and compassion make a real difference.”
 
Farmer Carol Hill, from Coraki in the Northern Rivers, echoes that sentiment. After years of droughts, bushfires, and floods, it was Rural Aid’s personal approach that helped her through.
 
“You don’t want to admit you’re struggling,” Carol said. “Farmers are strong, but sometimes we need help too. Rural Aid doesn’t just give you a number to call—they call you. They come to you. That human connection is everything.”
 
In the past 12 months, Rural Aid has seen a 55% rise in new mental health referrals. Its counsellors travel on-farm, make regular check-in calls, and deliver practical, compassionate support to families doing it tough.
 
“This tax time, we’re asking Australians to stand with farming families—especially the women who are so often the emotional backbone of the farm,” said Myf Pitcher. “Every donation can help Rural Aid connect with more people in need—both practically and emotionally through the many ups and downs of farm life.”
 
Donations support:

  • One-on-one on-farm counselling and wellbeing calls
  • Mental health workshops for rural communities
  • Resilience programs for kids and teens in remote schools

Behind every healthy farm is a healthy family. Help Rural Aid ensure that No Farmer Stands Alone.
 
Donate at: https://taxtime.ruralaid.org.au.

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

From Beekeepers to Oyster Farmers, Rural Aid Supports All Primary Producers in Crisis

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More than 1,800 primary producers already registered with Rural Aid are among those impacted, with the true number of affected farmers expected to be significantly higher. Properties have been inundated, infrastructure destroyed, and feed supplies wiped out — leaving many farming families facing yet another crisis.

Rural Aid supports a wide range of primary producers — not just beef, sheep and crop farmers, but also dairy producers, beekeepers, oyster farmers and others in aquaculture. This flood event has hit across all sectors, causing immense disruption to food production and supply chains.

Aquaculture farmers raising oysters, prawns, or fish, face massive challenges when floods strike. Contaminated water, loss of stock, damaged infrastructure, and disrupted ecosystems can mean years of recovery. And for our beekeepers, floodwaters can wash away hives, drown forage plants, and isolate rural operations.

At Rural Aid, we want every farmer to know: you matter. We support all kinds of farming families, and in times like these, we’re reminded just how diverse and essential each one is.

“When our farmers suffer, so does every Australian,” said Rural Aid CEO John Warlters.

“This is especially true for regions like the NSW Mid North Coast, where diverse and vibrant farming industries underpin both the local economy and broader Australian supply chains. From the dairy farms of the Manning Valley to the banana plantations around Coffs Harbour, the Mid North Coast produces a remarkable variety of food and fibre. The region is known for its macadamia orchards, beef cattle, avocado groves, oyster farms, and burgeoning boutique crops like blueberries and bush foods.”

“These industries not only support thousands of local jobs but also contribute significantly to national exports and food security. When adverse weather, economic pressures, or natural disasters strike this region, the ripple effects are felt far beyond its boundaries.”

“This is the latest in a long string of disasters that have battered this part of the country,” Mr Warlters continued. “Our farmers have shown extraordinary resilience through drought, fires and previous floods, but this latest blow is compounding years of hardship.”

Rural Aid is providing financial assistance and mental health support to flood-affected producers, and is gearing up for several emergency hay drops to sustain hungry livestock in the worst-hit areas.

“Helping our primary producers through these early days is critical, but we can’t do it alone,” Mr Warlters said. “Every donation helps us deliver meaningful, practical support to our farmers, ensuring they can keep producing the food and fibre we all rely on.”

Rural Aid is also continuing to provide vital support to flood-hit communities in Western Queensland, and to drought-affected farmers in Western Victoria and South Australia.

How to help

“Our farmers feed and clothe us — now it’s our turn to return the favour,” Mr Warlters said.

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

Every Dollar Doubled: Give Hope and Healing to Aussie Farmers

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Rural Aid is inviting Australians to show their care for the bush this tax time, with a special opportunity to have donations doubled, thanks to the generosity of the Raine & Horne Foundation.

Starting on Friday 23 May, all donations made at taxtime.ruralaid.org.au will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $1,000 per donation. The Raine & Horne Foundation will match donations until a $25,000 total is reached—a heartfelt gift helping bring comfort and support to farming families in need.
 
This giving initiative marks Raine & Horne’s 142nd anniversary and celebrates the renewal of a generous $100,000 partnership with Rural Aid.
 
Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said the support couldn’t come at a more meaningful time.
 
“Farming families across Australia continue to face extraordinary challenges—from extreme weather to emotional strain and isolation,” Mr Warlters said.
 
“Behind every donation is a message of care, and thanks to the Raine & Horne Foundation, that message will now reach twice as far.”
 
Donations to the Tax Appeal directly support Rural Aid’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Service, delivering:

  • Free, confidential counselling for farmers and their families
  • On-the-ground wellbeing visits in rural communities
  • Community resilience programs that foster hope, connection, and recovery

“The power of a matched donation isn’t just in the dollars—it’s in the hope it brings,” Mr Warlters said.
 
“When you give, you’re letting a farmer know that someone is thinking of them, someone cares. That means the world.”
 
Australians are encouraged to take part in this special week of giving and help Rural Aid continue walking beside our farmers—through life’s toughest seasons.
 
To donate and have your kindness matched, visit https://taxtime.ruralaid.org.au before $25,000 is reached.

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

Celebrating the Heart of Rural Australia: Volunteers Connect Communities with Rural Aid

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As National Volunteer Week (19–25 May 2025) shines a spotlight on the incredible contribution of volunteers across Australia, Rural Aid is proud to celebrate the everyday heroes who dedicate their time and energy to supporting our farming communities.

This year’s theme, “Connecting Communities,” couldn’t be more fitting. Volunteers are the beating heart of Rural Aid – helping to rebuild, reconnect and rejuvenate rural Australia through hands-on support, empathy, and enduring commitment.
 
“Volunteers are the human connection between city and country,” said Rural Aid CEO Mr John Warlters. “They show up not just with tools and time, but with compassion. Their efforts remind our farmers that they are not alone – that Australians care deeply about those who grow the food and fibre that sustains us all.”
 
From lending a hand during Farm Recovery Events, to supporting fundraising efforts, to being part of our dedicated Farm Army and Community Builders programs, volunteers are involved in every corner of Rural Aid’s work.

  • Farm Recovery Events bring volunteers together to repair fences, paint homesteads, plant trees and more – helping to restore not just properties, but spirits.
  • Community Builders work alongside locals to revitalise struggling regional towns, delivering long-term support and practical improvements.
  • The Farm Army connects skilled and unskilled volunteers with farmers in need of a helping hand – whether that’s for a weekend or a few months.

“The impact our volunteers make is immeasurable,” said Mr Warlters. “Every hour they give translates to hope for a farming family doing it tough. In Rural Aid’s ten-year history, our volunteers have contributed more than 50,000 hours of their time – a staggering show of generosity and commitment. Volunteering is a way of saying thank you to the farmers who work tirelessly to feed and clothe the nation.”
 
Rural Aid is calling on Australians – individuals, corporate teams, and community groups – to consider giving their time, skills or resources to rural communities.
 
👉 To volunteer, visit: www.ruralaid.org.au/volunteers
👉 To donate and support Rural Aid’s vital work, visit: www.ruralaid.org.au/donate
 
This National Volunteer Week, let’s celebrate the power of connection – and the volunteers who bring Australia’s communities together.

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