Come with us on this journey as we look at ways to improve the wellbeing of our calves as well as the mental wellbeing of our farming community. In this video series you’ll hear from industry leading professionals on how calf nutrition can affect the long-term profitability of your herd. Dedicated to improving rural community life, Tom Newton and the MaxCare team will also interview professionals who are passionate about rural and regional mental health and making a difference in our rural communities.
In this episode we talk to Liane Corocher about personal and business resilience and her role as a farmer and carer.
Liane manages the NSW Department of Primary Industries Business and Social Resilience Program. This program is designed to support farmers and fishers to build connections, confidence and skills to manage healthier farming businesses.
In Episode 4 we talk to Sarah Bolton about the future of calf rearing covering calf rearing practices, animal welfare and the right to farm. Sarah is a Veterinarian and graduated from Melbourne University Vet School in 2012. She is currently participating in Melbourne universities’ Dairy Residency program and she recently completed the Nuffield Scholarship.
In Episode 3 we talk to Jennie Keioskie about how stress can affect the decision making process and she highlight’s practical coping strategies for farmers and information on how they can gain access to mental health services. Jennie is a Rural Adversity Mental Health Coordinator.
In Episode 2 we talk to Dr Bob James about what farmers need to consider when using waste milk to feed their calves. A legend in calf and heifer rearing in the American dairy industry, Prof Emeritus and Down Home Heifer Solutions’ director, Dr Bob James is a world renown calf rearing expert.
Welcome to the first episode of the Growing Stronger Every Day Video Series. In this episode we interview Warren Davies, The Unbreakable Farmer who talks to us about his mental health journey. A dairy farmer himself, Warren discusses his relationship with his silent business partner, ‘Mother Nature’.
Australia is defined by our extremes – droughts, floods, heatwaves and fires have battered Australia for decades, but Australian farmers are now in unchartered territory as we experience record-breaking farming conditions.
January 2017 to December 2019 has been the driest 36-month period across eastern Australia, with the next driest period recorded in January 1900 to December 1902 during the Federation Drought1. Combine this with the hottest Australia Summer recorded in 2018/20191 and more than 12 million acres burnt across Australia in the recent catastrophic bushfires and this terrible trifecta of conditions has left the Australian agriculture industry facing unprecedented challenges.
MaxCare Business Manager, Tom Newton explains “our farmers continue to face challenging conditions, as an industry and community we need to rally together to support our farmers and help build stronger rural communities.”
MaxCare are proud to launch ‘Growing Stronger Every Day’ a video series which focuses on building stronger rural communities. Come with us on this journey as we look at ways to improve the wellbeing of our calves as well as the mental wellbeing of our farming community. In this video series you’ll hear from industry leading professionals on how calf nutrition can affect the long-term profitability of your herd. Dedicated to improving rural community life, Tom Newton and the MaxCare team will also interview professionals who are passionate about rural and regional mental health and making a difference in our rural communities.
“MaxCare is there every step of the way, we’re here to support our customers through the good times and more importantly in the challenging times. We are aware of the challenges and unpredictability of life on the land. Mental illness in the bush can be hard to detect, tough exteriors built by the harsh landscape we owe our livelihoods to, and the signature attitude of ‘she’ll be right’ can sometimes get us into to strife. With this video series we want to help remove the stigma around mental health and help our farmers address the challenges” said Mr Newton.
Mr Newton explains “the first episode of the 6-part series features Warren Davies, The Unbreakable Farmer who talks to us about his mental health journey. A dairy farmer himself, Warren discusses his relationship with his silent business partner, ‘Mother Nature’.”
According to the Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, suicide rates are 50% higher in rural and remote communities compared to capital cities2. Program Manager, Tessa Caton comments, “it’s really encouraging to see that MaxCare are realising the vital connection between looking after your mental health and how this impacts business performance and profitability. We need more companies taking a role like this because mental health is everyone’s responsibility.”
“There is power in community and we believe if we work together as an agricultural industry to remove the stigma around mental health and support our farmers, we’ll be able to make a real difference,” explains Mr Newton.
Mental Health Helplines:
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
If you are going through a tough time, you can get help and support at:
• Crrmh.com.au
• Headspace.org.au
• Saneforums.org
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