Help available for flood-hit farmers
The chair of the Otago Rural Support Trust, Tom Pinckney, says he believes that they will be especially busy in the coming months as the enormity of the floods hit home.
The Rural Change programme, providing free private mental health professional sessions to the rural industry, is set to continue its next chapter within Rural Support Trust from 1 July 2024.
Rural Change’s wellbeing programme has funded farmers and the wider rural community into over 529 sessions to jump the public mental health queue over the past five years.
Founder Elle Perriam says that when Will to Live was founded in 2019, the original mission was to change the stigma surrounding mental health in the rural sector.
“It grew into a charitable trust from so many donations we received and we passed those on to those in need in the form of funded counselling,” Perriam says.
She says that working part time as the facilitator for Rural Change alongside one administrator has been a great endeavour but it’s time for her to sign off after dedicating five years.
“It was a very hard decision to make,” Perriam says. “However, I now need the extra energy and time to focus on my studies and future career endeavours. I feel the industry is in wonderful hands with Rural Support Trust, Farmstrong and other incredible services.”
More than 473 people have applied for funding since Will to Live Charitable Trust launched Rural Change with a further 98 people completing the Anxiety Unloaded programme.
Funded sessions to the 60 people currently on the programme are open for them to use until 15th May 2024 and health professional invoices in by 1 June to be paid by 30th June.
From July onwards the nationwide network of resources and funds remaining within the Will to Live Charitable Trust will be transferred to Rural Support Trust National body to continue supporting farmers and growers.
“To every farmer who has participated in the Rural Wellbeing Program, I congratulate you and thank you for taking up the opportunity to do the hard mahi to enhance your own growth, health and happiness,” Perriam says.
“Consequently, it will have a positive flow on effect in both your lives and the ones around you,” she adds.
OPINION: Irate Southland farmers are on the money denying anglers access across their land.
Over 400 of New Zealand’s stalwart kiwifruit growers gathered in Mount Maunganui this week for a celebration to recognise three major milestones in the industry’s history.
While unrecorded in New Zealand, Bluetongue, an acute viral disease in ruminants, is endemic in tropical and sub-tropical climates.
She came all the way from a sheep station in Tasmania especially to be presented with the top prize in this year's Massey University agriculture, horticulture and environmental science award.
Massey University is tweaking the format of its agricultural courses.
A second Federated Farmers executive has been elected to the DairyNZ board.
OPINION: The Reserve Bank’s rate cut is great news, albeit a bit late, but your old mate agrees with Act…
OPINION: While the Government’s Fast Track bill is copping it from all the usual suspects – opposition parties, greenies, unions…