Sustaining a rural mental health workforce requires leadership that prioritises wellbeing, flexibility, and skill development. Drawing on my leadership experience of 20 years, most recently of the national Mental Health and Wellbeing (MHWB) team at Rural Aid, this presentation highlights strategies to prevent burnout, mitigate psychosocial risk, and foster inclusive, supportive workplaces across geographically dispersed communities. I will explore practical approaches to workforce retention, flexible work models, cross-sector collaboration, and advocacy for funding and system navigation. This session provides actionable strategies to empower rural mental health teams, strengthen workforce sustainability, and build resilient, integrated systems that meet the unique challenges of rural communities.