Rural Aid

Thanks Rinoldi for the behind-the-scenes tour and for being such a committed partner to Rural Aid and our farming families.

 After the devasting floods in Western Queensland earlier this year, many farming families faced the daunting task of rebuilding their homes, farms, and lives for months and years to come. Thanks to partners like APT Travel Group and the One Tomorrow Foundation, we are able to lend a helping hand and bring hope to farmers where it is needed most. Through APT’s Lake Eyre holiday promotion, a percentage of every booking was donated to Rural Aid. The generous team at the One Tomorrow Foundation then matched these donations dollar-for-dollar raising over $100,000 to support farmers and rural communities in need. Since 2018, APT has stood shoulder to shoulder with Rural Aid and Aussie farmers through flood, fire, and drought. Their ongoing commitment has helped strengthen community connection and wellbeing, allowing Rural Aid to deliver fodder, provide water tanks, and offer ongoing mental health and wellbeing support. Together, we’re helping farming families recover, rebuild, and renew, ensuring rural communities can thrive long after the waters recede. If your organisation would like to lend a helping hand and make a lasting impact for rural communities, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch with us to explore partnership opportunities.

Four generations of the Hilder family have farmed the Flinders Ranges, but this year’s dry has made the road ahead incredibly tough. With only 98mm of rain and feed running short, Dale says the emotional strain has been one of the hardest challenges: “Not knowing when it’s going to rain… it takes a toll.” A timely Rural Aid hay delivery and ongoing support from counsellor Dorothy have provided much-needed relief. These are the stories at the heart of what we do - supporting farmers through the toughest seasons with practical help and genuine care. 👉 Read Dale’s story: https://lnkd.in/g3MyycAZ

Since 2018, Woolworths Group, its team, their customers and more recently their Foundation have stood beside Rural Aid and Australia’s farming families. This incredible commitment makes Woolworths our largest financial supporter and longest-standing corporate partner. This partnership has meant that when disaster strikes, farmers get the right support at the right time. In the past 12 months alone, Woolworths’ contribution has helped us rapidly identify the immediate needs of farmers, distribute essential resources, and reduce both financial and psychological distress. Woolworths’ ongoing support strengthens rural communities for the long haul – helping farmers feel supported and cared for, encouraging more people to proactively seek help, and empowering communities to work together on their long-term renewal. With Woolworths by our side, Rural Aid can continue safeguarding farming and rural communities – before, during and after natural disasters. Thank you, Woolworths, for your unwavering commitment to Aussie farmers. 

Supporting South Australia – From the Ground Up Rural Aid’s support for South Australia goes far beyond physical assistance, it’s also about helping rural communities thrive for the long term. In the township of Eudunda, Rural Aid has proudly partnered with the Eudunda Community Business & Tourism Committee (ECBaT) to help create and deliver a Community Development Action Plan https://lnkd.in/g_BHEXfa Developed with community input and expert guidance from Peter Kenyon (Bank of I.D.E.A.S.), the plan focuses on strengthening tourism, revitalising main street appeal, and preserving the town’s proud heritage. A key project now underway is the revamp and repainting of Eudunda’s historic main street buildings, a grassroots effort to restore local pride, attract visitors, and keep rural history alive for future generations. The first building, the ‘Michalk Building’, has just been painted with a 50% contribution from Rural Aid. This marks the official start of Eudunda’s seed-funded project with us and a step towards achieving the goals of their Community Action Plan. Through initiatives like this, Rural Aid’s Community Development Program continues to build resilience, foster connection, and celebrate the heart of regional Australia - its people. 💚 #RuralAid #CommunityDevelopment #RuralResilience #Eudunda #SouthAustralia #SupportingCommunities #StrongerTogether

Peak Hill Farm Recovery Event: A Community United Last week, Rural Aid volunteers brought hope and practical help to Peak Hill, NSW, working side by side with farming families and local community groups to tackle jobs that make a real difference. Here’s what we achieved together: ✅ Fencing for the future – Installed and repaired over 4km of fencing, protecting livestock and easing farmers’ workload. ✅ Home improvements – Painted rooms, patched walls, and pressure-cleaned homes to restore comfort and dignity. ✅ Water security – Checked and repaired dam pumps, ensuring reliable water access for farming operations. ✅ Community spaces revitalised – Repaired seating and painted doors at the Peak Hill Showground, trimmed hedges at the Bowling Club, and upgraded the Community Garden greenhouse. ✅ Garden makeovers – Cleared overgrown areas, mowed lawns, and restored outdoor spaces for families to enjoy again. These aren’t just jobs, they’re moments of connection and care that strengthen our rural communities. Every fence post, every brushstroke, every repaired pump means less stress for farmers and stronger connections across the Peak Hill region. 💚 Thank you to our incredible volunteers and supporters who make this possible. Your time, energy, and care are changing lives. 📣 Want to be part of the next Farm Recovery Event? Learn more: https://lnkd.in/giF3ytf #RuralAid #FarmRecoveryEvent #PeakHill #CommunityStrong #HereForTheLongHaul #SupportFarmers

The Peak Hill Farm Recovery Event has begun! The volunteers have all arrived, and the week has kicked off with some much-needed sunshine, and even a rainbow to welcome them. 🌅 Jobs have been assigned, tools are stacked and ready, and farmers are meeting their eager teams of Rural Aid volunteers who’ll be lending a hand throughout the week. This event is part of Rural Aid’s Farm Recovery Program, bringing together volunteers and farmers to repair fences, restore sheds, and rebuild hope after disasters. For the Peak Hill community, still recovering from the 2022 floods, this week is about more than fixing what was lost, it’s about connection, support, and a fresh start. From 26 October to 1 November, 35 Rural Aid volunteers will be working across seven local farms, lending a hand with essential jobs like fencing repairs, property maintenance, vegetation clearing and small-scale construction projects. Beyond the farm gates, the team is also helping revitalise local community spaces, reinforcing Rural Aid’s commitment to whole-of-community recovery and strength. 💚 Would you like to be part of the Rural Aid Volunteers? You can register now to receive updates on the 2026 Farm Recovery Event locations here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gpznt-Kx #RuralAid #FarmRecovery #PeakHill #Volunteers #SupportingCommunities #AussieFarmers #RuralStrength

Rural Aid CEO, John Warlters, sat down to share how Rural Aid supports farming families before, during and after disasters. In the episode, John discusses how Rural Aid’s support goes well beyond hay and emergency water, extending to mental health counselling and on-farm assistance that helps farmers make the tough decisions that keep food on our nation’s tables. John also shines a light on our long-standing partnership with Woolworths Group Foundation, and the incredible role it plays in sustaining farming communities, delivering not just practical support, but hope. 🎧 Listen to the full conversation here https://lnkd.in/gC-yy-4s

🌾 Drought Update: Southern Australia Southern Australia is heading into summer facing one of the harshest droughts in recent memory, with rainfall over the past two years hitting record lows in parts of Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. Reports from farmers like near Warrnambool advise that delayed green shoots and dwindling feed supplies mean tough decisions, many are spending hundreds of thousands on hay and silage just to keep livestock going. Some smaller farms are struggling to secure enough feed at any price. While pockets of rain arrived in June and July, it may be too late for many paddocks to recover before the summer heat puts additional pressure on crops and livestock. The drought’s impact is felt not just economically, but on the wellbeing of rural communities. Rural Aid continues to support farmers and families through these challenging times. Most recently, hay trucks have been sent to Hawker and Cadell in South Australia bringing 143 bales of hay to ten farmers in need of feed for their livestock. If you’re in need of assistance, visit our website to register and access help. https://lnkd.in/fV-pJhS #RuralAid #DroughtSupport #RuralResilience #FarmersInNeed #SouthernAustralia

Strengthening Rural Australia, Together At Rural Aid, we know that supporting farmers is about more than immediate relief, it’s about building long-term resilience for communities right across the country. Our counsellors live and work in regional Australia, providing consistent mental health and wellbeing support where it’s needed most. Paired with practical initiatives like: 🚜 Farm Recovery Events that rebuild homes, fences and spirits 💧 Hay and water deliveries during tough seasons 👩👩👦 Community events that reduce isolation and strengthen connection …it’s a model of care that goes beyond crisis response. It builds trust, sustainability, and hope. That’s why partnerships with government, industry and community are so critical. Together, we can continue to ensure farming families and rural towns have the resources and support to thrive, no matter what challenges lie ahead. 📖 Read more about how Rural Aid’s local-first approach is making a lasting difference in Partyline Magazine: https://lnkd.in/gzrUzFRp #RuralAid #Partnerships #CommunityResilience #MentalHealth #SupportingFarmers #CorporateSocialResponsibility