FRRR launches new podcast series

Leaders from eleven community groups across Australia have shared their stories about the projects their communities embarked on in the depths of the drought that affected so much of Australia over the last decade. The stories can be heard on FRRR’s new Tackling Tough Times Together podcast.

Each of the 10 episodes looks back on a grant that was funded through the long-running Tackling Tough Times Together grant program. Guests are the local leaders behind the projects, who reflect on what shaped the project and most importantly, the impact that it had. They talk about the challenges they faced, how they responded, the lessons they’ve learnt and the legacy that’s been left.

The podcast series supports the release of FRRR’s Tackling Tough Times Together Impact report. The program ran from 2014 to 2022 and sought to support remote, rural and regional communities that were actively in drought, or in the process of recovery from drought. In total, FRRR awarded $18.6 million via 681 grants, with at least half a million people benefitting from the program.

The projects discussed in the podcast range from refurbishing community halls and running community events, to setting up retail spaces so local artisans could generate valuable off-farm income; providing musical experiences that built confidence and skills in young people; to events that brought people together to support one another and to upskill, and art galleries that are not what you might expect.

Social connection was one of the biggest needs, especially as the drought dragged on, and among the stories shared is the Rural Connect project. In the first episode, Lesley Harvey, mental health specialist at the Royal Flying Doctor Service and Sue Kingwill, CEO of Contact Incorporated, talk about how the RFDS and Contact Inc came together to give people across far west New South Wales hope, after 10 years of relentless drought.

Nina O’Brien, FRRR’s Disaster Resilience & Recovery Lead, said that the series highlights the critical role of local leaders and local organisations in shaping a vibrant, resilient, sustainable and empowered community, despite the challenges of drought.

“Drought has always been an enduring feature within the Australian landscape and it’s had profound impacts right across the FRRR’s 25 year history. These conversations showcase the strength and tenacity of rural communities and highlight once again why investing in social capital is a vital puzzle piece for mitigating the impacts of drought.

“Social cohesion is literally the glue that binds these communities. It’s just so important for people to remain socially connected, engaged and feeling like they’re really supported. But when adversity strikes, it can easily be reprioritised, especially if it’s costly or doesn’t respond to the local context. By capturing these stories, we hope to inspire other communities and to celebrate the work of these groups,” Ms O’Brien said.

You can find the whole series at www.soundcloud.com/FRRRAustralia.

Founded by Stephanie Trethewey, the 2022 AgriFutures National Rural Woman of the Year, Motherland Australia’s mission is to eliminate the crippling social isolation many rural mums face by connecting them to a supportive online community and offering a mothers group program that every rural mum can access, regardless of her location.

At the core of Motherland’s initiatives is the Motherland Village program, an innovative online mothers’ group program designed to transcend geographical barriers. The program, which runs for six weeks, provides a personalised virtual space for rural mothers, creating connections and support networks that endure well beyond the program’s duration.

The impact of the Motherland Village program is evident, with 87% of participants reporting significant positive changes in their lives. The program has not only addressed the issue of social isolation but has also become a catalyst for rural mothers to do things differently and communicate regularly within their groups.

Complementing the virtual community is the Motherland podcast, launched in December 2019. With 27,000+ monthly listens and over 210 rural mothers interviewed, the podcast has become a powerful platform, consistently ranking in the Top 15 parenting podcasts on Apple iTunes nationally. It serves as a voice for rural mothers, addressing their unique experiences, challenges, and triumphs.

Over the past six months, Motherland has utilised an FRRR Fundraising account to fund a crucial Partnerships and Sales role. This strategic move has enabled the organisation to capitalise on the demand from the rural motherhood community, leading to a 50% increase in the online community and a 25% increase in projected partnership revenue for FY23/24.

“Our NFP account has been a gamechanger in helping us secure the funds required for this role- which has been pivotal to our charity’s growth and impact across rural Australia.”

The role has not only secured additional podcast advertising revenue and corporate partnerships but has also been instrumental in attracting sponsorship funds for Motherland’s national conference. The newfound revenue will also allow for improvements to the Motherland Village program for 2024, including the creation of video content featuring health and wellbeing professionals, which is currently underway.

Motherland is in the early stages of developing a formal fundraising strategy, with plans to be more public with their fundraising efforts and FRRR fundraising account throughout 2024. The organisation is focused on continued growth, with ongoing efforts to expand its impact through the Motherland Connect platform—an online resource hub for rural mothers that will launch later in the year.

You can support Motherland through the FRRR fundraising account, contributing to the reduction of social isolation, improvement of mental health outcomes, and the creation of meaningful connections across rural communities.

In our fourth and final podcast in this series, journalist Cameron Wilson discovers that a shared interest in conservation and environment can be a potent driver of social cohesion. We discover how botanical art has been an unlikely catalyst for an environmental project in outback Queensland and discuss the reasons why these projects break down isolation.

Speaking with botanical artist Jenny Mace and FRRR and AEGN Board member Anne Grindrod, we learn the value of people getting involved in projects that take into consideration the wider environment, and how this can be something that relieves the pressure of land owners during tough times.