When Queensland mixed farmer David Woods thinks about mental health for rural men, he sees lessons in low-stress stock handling.
“With the model of low stress stock handling, we're understanding the instincts of the animal before we look to change the behaviour. And I think with regards to mental health, we really need to be doing a much better job of understanding the nuances of rural Australian men,” Mr Woods said.
“We need to be changing the way we communicate, which is effective in low stress stock handling. We're changing the way we communicate, and we're getting much better results.”
Mr Woods, who farms near Goondiwindi, Queensland, running broadacre dryland cropping alongside 300 Angus breeders, is one of eight rural men featuring in Father Land.
After nearly six years of telling the stories of rural mums, the Motherland podcast is putting the spotlight on dads for the first time. Hosted by Motherland founder and CEO Stephanie Trethewey, it's a platform for raw and honest conversations about fatherhood, identity and mental health in the bush.
The podcast launched on Wednesday with National Farmers’ Federation Vice President John Hassell and will features men from across the country, including AFL great Tom Hawkins and producers from every corner of Australia, over eight weeks. Their stories tackle themes such as grief, divorce, drinking, and the realities of parenting in remote and rural regions.
“Across rural Australia, too many men are suffering in silence,” Ms Trethewey said. “They’re facing relentless pressures like drought, floods, isolation, financial strain, and for many, the weight of it all is carried quietly, especially by fathers who feel they must stay strong for everyone else.”
The series is supported by Nutrien Ag Solutions. “At Nutrien Ag Solutions, we know the pressures of farming life don’t just impact the business, they impact families and the communities supporting them too,” said Carissa Buckland, Director Corporate Affairs and Marketing. "We’re proud to support this series because starting these conversations will continue to grow stronger, healthier communities across regional Australia.”
For Mr Woods, the conversation is deeply personal. Fifteen years ago, he faced significant mental health challenges and while conventional treatment provided some support, he found himself searching for answers elsewhere.
That search has led him to undertake a Nuffield Scholarship, examining why rural Australia’s mental health outcomes are not improving despite greater investment and why is there so much resistance to seek treatment and to take action.
He said initiatives like Father Land were key because they use language and platforms that cut through to farmers and emphasised the importance of the messaging coming from another farmer.
“It’s not often that rural men take the time to have a vulnerable conversation about some major challenges that they’ve had and how they overcome those challenges," he said. "Every time one of those stories gets heard, there’s someone out there who can connect with it.”
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