Australian farmers face challenges few others can imagine. Drought, fires, floods, disease, rising costs, shifting markets, and a lack of understanding from those outside their world. These pressures, combined with limited access to money, resources, and support, have taken a toll on faming communities’ mental health.
Living and working in remote areas often means help is hard to reach. Even when it is available, many farmers hesitate to seek it out – held back by stoicism, stigma, or the belief that outsiders don’t truly understand their way of life.
That’s what inspired Associate Professor, Kate Gunn, who grew up on a South Australian farm, to create ifarmwell in 2018. What began as an interactive website and text-message program has become a lifeline for farmers across the country, offering practical tools to cope with stress and protect mental wellbeing.
Developed through research, clinical experience, and close collaboration with farmers themselves, ifarmwell lets users work through short, practical modules at their own pace, from home, the ute, or even the tractor. Farmers say that it gives them hope, perspective, and strategies to face life’s ups and downs.
Today, ifarmwell has grown into a wide-reaching wellbeing movement. With the help of donors and funding partners, the team has expanded (even including a farmer!) and the program now includes podcasts, social media campaigns, interactive workshops, conversation cards, and even a farmer-wellbeing focused musical – ‘Kick off ya boots’!
Everything ifarmwell does is built with farmers, for farmers – practical, evidence-based, confidential, free and “not too fluffy!”
Most recently, Professor Gunn and her team launched ‘Weather it together’, a campaign developed with the South Australian agricultural sector. It's a simple message from farmers to farmers - stay connected, focus on what you can control, keep active, and reach out for help if you need it.
Ifarmwell continues to grow, seeking new ways to reach more farmers and make mental health support truly farmer-friendly – including plans for a dedicated rural helpline in partnership with Lifeline Australia.
