Nineteen not-for-profit organisations (NFPs) helping people from farming and rural communities at risk of, or currently experiencing, mental health challenges are sharing in $334,501 in grants, thanks to FRRR’s In a Good Place (IAGP) program.
The grants will support these NFPs to raise awareness of positive mental health practices, promote broad discussion about mental health issues to combat stigma and provide opportunities for social connection to enhance both personal and community resilience.
Thanks to the support of FRRR’s donor partners, the IAGP program has been able to fund a wide range of general community wellbeing projects, as well as 10 initiatives specifically designed to support the mental health and wellbeing of farmers and the communities they live in.
A list of the grant recipients and their projects is available on FRRR’s website.
Jill Karena, Head of Granting at FRRR, said that the continued demand for In a Good Place grants shows that there is a strong desire to overcome the perceived stigma around mental health in the bush.
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“Equitable access to mental health services, training and support is a persistent concern for nonmetro regions across the country, so supporting NFPs to help bridge this gap is something that FRRR, is incredibly passionate about. We are grateful to work with like-minded partners who share this mission.
“The In a Good Place program is becoming an increasingly critical source of funding for community organisations that are a vital lifeline of mental health support for people living in remote, rural and regional communities. The more that we can fund mental health projects and services in these places, the more farmers and rural people can see that it takes strength, not weakness, to reach out and accept help.
“To help break down these barriers, we’ve awarded grants to NFPs that will bring farmers and people from the country together in a safe space where they can listen to and engage with relatable guest speakers who will share their lived experiences. In Dookie, in Victoria, and Smithton in Tasmania, the Just a Farmer film will be a great catalyst for local farmers and other rural community members to join these frank, and sometimes challenging, conversations.
“In other communities, such as Queenstown in Tasmania, Kerang in Victoria, Wardell in New South Wales, Chapman Valley in Western Australia, and Bowen in Queensland, locals are keen to do mental health training. Doing certifications and courses, such as Mental Health First Aid, safeTalk, Assist and other suicide prevention education programs, means that people that might be doing it tough will have better access to the resources and support they need.
“We’re supporting these kinds of initiatives because we know that education empowers local people to support and strengthen one another, which is a key factor in sustaining a vibrant and resilient rural Australia,” Ms Karena said.
“FRRR is also directing funding to disaster-affected remote, rural and regional communities where isolation and the loss of physical and social structures can exacerbate mental health issues, especially for more vulnerable people. In places like Rochester in Victoria, these funds will provide practical assistance and access to mental health support services as these regions continue to recover from flooding events.
“Extreme weather events, the changing climate and shifting industries and markets are also affecting agriculture-dependent communities like Mossman in Queensland. To support these regions, some of the grants will enable NFPs to support farmers and their communities to connect, relate, learn and share how their mental health has been affected by climate change, disasters and environmental disruption,” Ms Karena said.
The next round of the program will open in July 2025 Learn more at https://frrr.org.au/funding/place/in-a-good-place/.
