In Tasmania’s Spring Bay region, rural living brings with it a strong sense of community, alongside the realities of environmental uncertainty. Like many small towns across Australia, Spring Bay faces the increasing pressures of drought and the broader mental health challenges that can accompany it.

To help the community better prepare for these pressures, the Spring Bay Suicide Prevention Network (The Network) led an initiative to increase local capacity in supporting mental health and emotional resilience. The project was delivered in partnership with Lifeline Tasmania and was supported by a $7,425 Small Networks Grant, funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund under the Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative.

Aptly titled Accidental Counsellors Together (ACT), the project aimed to give everyday residents – from hairdressers and supermarket staff, to sports club volunteers – the skills to identify, respond to and support others experiencing mental health challenges. These individuals are often the first to notice when something isn’t right, but they lacked the tools and confidence to intervene safely and effectively.

To address this, three tailored training sessions were held at Spring Bay’s Community Health Centre. Run in the morning, afternoon and evening, the sessions were timed to ensure that shift workers, business owners and retirees alike could attend. Across the day, 44 participants took part in the three-hour workshops, which included role-play scenarios, information sharing and structured discussion. All attendees rated the sessions as highly valuable.

Participants came from all corners of the community, including representatives from local businesses, schools, Council, RSL and sporting clubs. Their varied backgrounds only strengthened the reach and relevance of the training, with each person bringing their lived experience to the sessions. This level of collaboration within the community is a great example of the project’s lasting impact.

The Network committed to maintaining these connections and collaborative support in the community. Three months after the training, Lifeline Tasmania returned to Spring Bay and delivered another two in-person sessions where participants shared experiences, addressed challenges and practiced their skills in locally relevant scenarios.

To reinforce knowledge between sessions, The Network also launched fortnightly email communications, providing accessible reminders and resources on topics such as suicide-safe language, personal boundaries, asking open questions and managing emotional fatigue.

This project was about strengthening the foundation of support that already exists in rural places – neighbours, co-workers, friends. By giving individuals the right tools and ongoing encouragement, Spring Bay is now home to a growing mental health network that spans across businesses, services and social settings.

“The most wonderful thing is that people are now aware and talking about how best to support others,” said one local. As drought and climate change continue to challenge rural Australia, projects like ACT underscore the importance of emotional preparedness.

In rural and remote communities, where medical help is often hours away, first aid skills can be lifesaving. Recognising the increased risk of on-farm accidents during drought, the GroWQ Association delivered a training program for 188 participants across Central West Queensland in 2024. Sessions in Longreach, Aramac, Barcaldine, Tambo, Winton, Yaraka, Boulia and Jundah provided scenario-based training tailored to rural emergencies.

The program was supported by a $20,000 Small Network Grant, funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund under the Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative. Beyond essential first aid skills, it strengthened communication, social connections and collaboration. In smaller towns like Yaraka, the sold-out workshop also became a rare chance for residents to gather, share experiences and strengthen their sense of community. One participant noted, “It was great to meet others who live nearby and face the same challenges. It felt like we’re all in this together.”

The training also sparked ongoing community engagement in emergency planning, with attendees staying in touch to discuss preparedness strategies, mental health and extending first aid knowledge within their families and groups.

The program’s impact was undeniable. Just nine days after completing the course, a participant used his training to save a critically injured farm worker who suffered serious injuries following a quad bike accident. GroWQ Project Coordinator, Pru Button, said, “Knowing that even one life was saved makes the entire project worthwhile. We are immensely proud to have empowered members of our community with critical skills that not only enhance their confidence in managing emergencies but also contribute to the resilience and safety of rural and remote areas.”

Community connections and collaboration are essential for resilience during droughts. By fostering stronger, more prepared communities, GroWQ’s first aid training program has improved the region’s ability to navigate future challenges and respond effectively to emergencies, ensuring better safety for all.

Please note: Images are of mock scenarios only.

The Arid Lands region in Central Australia is vast, with a small, dispersed population. Its climate is characterised by extreme temperatures. Huge geographical distances pose major challenges in accessing essential services and infrastructure, as well as establishing and maintaining a social support network.

Add the pressures of everyday life and the impacts of increasingly frequent droughts, floods and bushfires, and it is often difficult for community members and agricultural workers in the region to find ways to connect.

The Red Centre Rural Ladies Day, held in Alice Springs on International Rural Women’s Day (October 2024), was a wonderful opportunity to highlight and celebrate the contribution that rural women make to life on the land. It also meant more than 80 women (and men) had the opportunity to network and strengthen relationships.

The celebration was the first in a series of community events under The Arid Lands Agricultural Community Connections Project, which is funded by a $50,000 grant via the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund through the Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative Small Network Grants.

Delivered collaboratively by Landcare NT and the Centralian Land Management Association (CLMA), the overarching project is designed to initiate and encourage social and community connection between agricultural workers in the region, helping them to be more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought.

The events are all about celebrating the people that call the Arid Lands home and that’s exactly what last years Red Centre Rural Ladies Day achieved. A variety of musical performances and a special show from cabaret dance masters Desert Diamonds had everyone up on their feet, dancing the night away. A series of exercises and games gave complete strangers the chance to bond and create memories, while guest speakers inspired the audience and opened discussions between attendees. Finally, the night closed with the celebration of three local rural women’s contributions to their communities during the awards ceremony.  

Events Manager for Red Centre Rural Ladies Day, Danyelle Haigh said, “I am extremely proud of the entire event. It was fantastic to see so many friendships made throughout the night from the interactive games and activities that they participated in.”

Rural Ladies Day is an annual event and its continued success shows how important community-driven initiatives are for strengthening the resilience, networks and wellbeing of those living and working in the Arid Lands region.