Building Mental Health Capacity in Farming Communities: From Understanding the Evidence to Place-based Action
Tracks
Grand Ballroom 1
| Wednesday, November 5, 2025 |
| 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM |
Overview
Dr Alison Kennedy and Sally Cunningham, National Centre for Farmer Health - Victoria
Presenter
Sally Cunningham
Project / Extension Officer
National Centre for Farmer Health
Building Mental Health Capacity in Farming Communities: From Understanding the Evidence to Place-based Action
Presentation Overview
This workshop will highlight the enablers and barriers to building resilience and promoting mental health in agriculture-dependent communities, including evidence-based recommendations for incorporating best practice design elements and approaches for resilience building initiatives. Interactive case studies will then be presented which demonstrate the application of these recommendations, drawing on existing initiatives of the National Centre for Farmer Health:
- Steering Straight: A resource to help farmers look beyond the endless cycle of tasks to do, and help with reflection, planning for the challenges ahead, and preparing for action
- Calm the Farm: Training workshops for farmers to prevent work-related risks to mental health
- Tackling the Tough Topics: Practical guidelines to help communities plan safe and effective mental health and wellbeing events.
Workshop attendees will gain new knowledge, skills and understanding of existing resources that can be utilised in their work to support mental health and resilience-building in agricultural communities.
- Steering Straight: A resource to help farmers look beyond the endless cycle of tasks to do, and help with reflection, planning for the challenges ahead, and preparing for action
- Calm the Farm: Training workshops for farmers to prevent work-related risks to mental health
- Tackling the Tough Topics: Practical guidelines to help communities plan safe and effective mental health and wellbeing events.
Workshop attendees will gain new knowledge, skills and understanding of existing resources that can be utilised in their work to support mental health and resilience-building in agricultural communities.
Biography
Sally Cunningham has been involved in community engagement and capacity building with Victorian farmers, Landcare and producer groups for many years. She enjoys working with farm families to bring about positive changes for their enterprise, community and the environment. Since joining the National Centre for Farmer Health team in 2021, Sally has been talking with farmers through podcasts, workshops and community events about improving mental health in their workplaces to reduce stress and build a more positive workplace culture.
Dr Alison Kennedy
Director
National Centre for Farmer Health - Victoria
Building Mental Health Capacity in Farming Communities: From Understanding the Evidence to Place-based Action
Presentation Overview
This workshop will highlight the enablers and barriers to building resilience and promoting mental health in agriculture-dependent communities, including evidence-based recommendations for incorporating best practice design elements and approaches for resilience building initiatives. Interactive case studies will then be presented which demonstrate the application of these recommendations, drawing on existing initiatives of the National Centre for Farmer Health:
- Steering Straight: A resource to help farmers look beyond the endless cycle of tasks to do, and help with reflection, planning for the challenges ahead, and preparing for action
- Calm the Farm: Training workshops for farmers to prevent work-related risks to mental health
- Tackling the Tough Topics: Practical guidelines to help communities plan safe and effective mental health and wellbeing events.
Workshop attendees will gain new knowledge, skills and understanding of existing resources that can be utilised in their work to support mental health and resilience-building in agricultural communities.
- Steering Straight: A resource to help farmers look beyond the endless cycle of tasks to do, and help with reflection, planning for the challenges ahead, and preparing for action
- Calm the Farm: Training workshops for farmers to prevent work-related risks to mental health
- Tackling the Tough Topics: Practical guidelines to help communities plan safe and effective mental health and wellbeing events.
Workshop attendees will gain new knowledge, skills and understanding of existing resources that can be utilised in their work to support mental health and resilience-building in agricultural communities.
Biography
Alison is a Behavioural Scientist who has lived and worked in Victoria’s rural farming community for over 2 decades. Her expertise in rural/farmer mental health and suicide prevention has drawn on a range of innovative techniques including digital interventions, digital storytelling, community education programs and peer support models. Alison has led numerous farmer mental health projects and continues to build the Centre’s capacity and reach by working collaboratively with researchers, farmers and industry stakeholders across Australia and internationally.
