Just a South West Farmer (2026): Creative, Community‑Led Mental Health Engagement in Rural/ Remote Queensland
Tracks
Jacaranda
| Friday, November 6, 2026 |
| 10:40 AM - 11:00 AM |
Overview
Emily Gorkow & Tegan Russell, Tracc South West Hospital & Health Service
Three Key Learnings
1. Strengthening Rural Mental Health Through Community Partnerships
Collaboration with trusted local stakeholders and leaders builds ownership and enhances long-term outcomes. It also strengthens credibility, expands reach, and ensures initiatives are culturally appropriate and grounded in local context.
2. Creative Engagement as a Pathway to Non-Confrontational Mental Health Conversations
Creative approaches like photography, storytelling, and film reduce stigma and create safe, relatable ways to open conversations and improve mental health literacy.
3. Practical Strategies for Delivering Rural Mental Health Initiatives
Gain insight into the realities of working across geographically dispersed communities Explore strategies to overcome barriers and adopt strengths-based approaches.
Presenter
Ms Emily Gorkow
Regional Adversity Clinician
Tracc South West Hospital & Health Service
Just a South West Farmer (2026): Creative, Community‑Led Mental Health Engagement in Rural/ Remote Queensland
Presentation Overview
Just a South West Farmer (2026): Creative, Community Led Mental Health Engagement in Rural and Remote Queensland
This presentation provides an in‑depth analysis of the 2026 Just a South West Farmer project and shares practical insights into the design and delivery of creative, community‑led mental health initiatives in rural and remote contexts. It highlights the critical role of strong community partnerships, trust, and locally embedded approaches in ensuring mental health initiatives are well received, accessible, and relevant.
The project demonstrates how mental health practitioners can move beyond traditional service delivery models to engage communities in ways that are locally meaningful, sustainable, and stigma‑reducing. By adopting creative, non‑confrontational methods, the initiative supports increased engagement, strengthens mental health literacy, and contributes to the development of rural mental health‑capable communities.
Delivered across South West Queensland, the project spans the local government areas of Murweh, Paroo, Bulloo, Maranoa, and Balonne. This community‑driven arts and mental health initiative celebrates the stories, resilience, and identities of people living and working in rural and remote communities.
At its core, the project uses photography, storytelling, and film to capture lived experiences while creating safe and meaningful opportunities for conversations about mental health. Through this creative lens, the project normalises discussion, reduces stigma, and builds practical mental health knowledge in ways that resonate with rural audiences.
The initiative also promotes early help‑seeking and peer support through programs such as the Farmer to Farmer community gatekeeper model, while establishing clear pathways from initial conversations to ongoing local action. By leveraging existing community networks and trusted relationships, the project supports engagement that is both authentic and sustainable.
Importantly, this work recognises that rural communities already possess deep resilience, capability, and local knowledge. Rather than imposing external solutions, the project amplifies local capacity and supports community‑led, grassroots responses to mental health challenges.
This presentation provides an in‑depth analysis of the 2026 Just a South West Farmer project and shares practical insights into the design and delivery of creative, community‑led mental health initiatives in rural and remote contexts. It highlights the critical role of strong community partnerships, trust, and locally embedded approaches in ensuring mental health initiatives are well received, accessible, and relevant.
The project demonstrates how mental health practitioners can move beyond traditional service delivery models to engage communities in ways that are locally meaningful, sustainable, and stigma‑reducing. By adopting creative, non‑confrontational methods, the initiative supports increased engagement, strengthens mental health literacy, and contributes to the development of rural mental health‑capable communities.
Delivered across South West Queensland, the project spans the local government areas of Murweh, Paroo, Bulloo, Maranoa, and Balonne. This community‑driven arts and mental health initiative celebrates the stories, resilience, and identities of people living and working in rural and remote communities.
At its core, the project uses photography, storytelling, and film to capture lived experiences while creating safe and meaningful opportunities for conversations about mental health. Through this creative lens, the project normalises discussion, reduces stigma, and builds practical mental health knowledge in ways that resonate with rural audiences.
The initiative also promotes early help‑seeking and peer support through programs such as the Farmer to Farmer community gatekeeper model, while establishing clear pathways from initial conversations to ongoing local action. By leveraging existing community networks and trusted relationships, the project supports engagement that is both authentic and sustainable.
Importantly, this work recognises that rural communities already possess deep resilience, capability, and local knowledge. Rather than imposing external solutions, the project amplifies local capacity and supports community‑led, grassroots responses to mental health challenges.
Biography
Emily and Tegan are rural women who have spent their adult lives living and working in rural and remote communities across Queensland. They are committed to strengthening the wellbeing of the communities where they live, work, and raise their families.
Both presenters are experienced mental health nurses with backgrounds in acute mental health care. Their clinical experience provides a strong understanding of the complexities of mental illness, suicide risk, and barriers to help-seeking in rural settings. Through their roles within the TRACC Program, they have shifted their focus toward community-based prevention, early intervention, and reducing stigma through grassroots engagement.
Miss Tegan Russell
Regional Adversity Clinician
Tracc South West Hospital & Health Service
Just a South West Farmer (2026): Creative, Community‑Led Mental Health Engagement in Rural/ Remote Queensland
Presentation Overview
Just a South West Farmer (2026): Creative, Community Led Mental Health Engagement in Rural and Remote Queensland
This presentation provides an in‑depth analysis of the 2026 Just a South West Farmer project and shares practical insights into the design and delivery of creative, community‑led mental health initiatives in rural and remote contexts. It highlights the critical role of strong community partnerships, trust, and locally embedded approaches in ensuring mental health initiatives are well received, accessible, and relevant.
The project demonstrates how mental health practitioners can move beyond traditional service delivery models to engage communities in ways that are locally meaningful, sustainable, and stigma‑reducing. By adopting creative, non‑confrontational methods, the initiative supports increased engagement, strengthens mental health literacy, and contributes to the development of rural mental health‑capable communities.
Delivered across South West Queensland, the project spans the local government areas of Murweh, Paroo, Bulloo, Maranoa, and Balonne. This community‑driven arts and mental health initiative celebrates the stories, resilience, and identities of people living and working in rural and remote communities.
At its core, the project uses photography, storytelling, and film to capture lived experiences while creating safe and meaningful opportunities for conversations about mental health. Through this creative lens, the project normalises discussion, reduces stigma, and builds practical mental health knowledge in ways that resonate with rural audiences.
The initiative also promotes early help‑seeking and peer support through programs such as the Farmer to Farmer community gatekeeper model, while establishing clear pathways from initial conversations to ongoing local action. By leveraging existing community networks and trusted relationships, the project supports engagement that is both authentic and sustainable.
Importantly, this work recognises that rural communities already possess deep resilience, capability, and local knowledge. Rather than imposing external solutions, the project amplifies local capacity and supports community‑led, grassroots responses to mental health challenges.
This presentation provides an in‑depth analysis of the 2026 Just a South West Farmer project and shares practical insights into the design and delivery of creative, community‑led mental health initiatives in rural and remote contexts. It highlights the critical role of strong community partnerships, trust, and locally embedded approaches in ensuring mental health initiatives are well received, accessible, and relevant.
The project demonstrates how mental health practitioners can move beyond traditional service delivery models to engage communities in ways that are locally meaningful, sustainable, and stigma‑reducing. By adopting creative, non‑confrontational methods, the initiative supports increased engagement, strengthens mental health literacy, and contributes to the development of rural mental health‑capable communities.
Delivered across South West Queensland, the project spans the local government areas of Murweh, Paroo, Bulloo, Maranoa, and Balonne. This community‑driven arts and mental health initiative celebrates the stories, resilience, and identities of people living and working in rural and remote communities.
At its core, the project uses photography, storytelling, and film to capture lived experiences while creating safe and meaningful opportunities for conversations about mental health. Through this creative lens, the project normalises discussion, reduces stigma, and builds practical mental health knowledge in ways that resonate with rural audiences.
The initiative also promotes early help‑seeking and peer support through programs such as the Farmer to Farmer community gatekeeper model, while establishing clear pathways from initial conversations to ongoing local action. By leveraging existing community networks and trusted relationships, the project supports engagement that is both authentic and sustainable.
Importantly, this work recognises that rural communities already possess deep resilience, capability, and local knowledge. Rather than imposing external solutions, the project amplifies local capacity and supports community‑led, grassroots responses to mental health challenges.
Biography
Tegan Russell is a Mental Health Nurse with the Tackling Regional Adversity Through Connected Communities (TRACC) Program, supporting rural and remote communities across South West Queensland. Tegan has spent much of her adult life in rural and remote communities and is deeply connected to the regions where she lives, works, and raises her family. She is passionate about strengthening the wellbeing and resilience of the communities she proudly calls home. With a background in acute mental health nursing, she combines clinical expertise with a strong commitment to community-led mental health promotion, early intervention, and suicide prevention. Tegan enjoys developing innovative, creative initiatives that foster connection, reduce stigma, and make mental health conversations more accessible and meaningful in rural communities.
