This project is a shared funding initiative between Dairy SA and Industry Fund to help farmers who are doing it tough. The project has been running for a number of years and the fund has committed funding for a further three years to support Rick Hinge’s important work. There is no doubt that Rick’s work with farmers who have been doing it tough has helped many and the feed back surrounding his work has been heart-warming to hear.
Dairy Well Being Project $36,000
DairySA have incorporated a number of wellbeing activities into their annual workplan. This included:
Health checks at Central conference, wellbeing speakers at central conference and innovation day, discussion group wellbeing topic, ladies lunches. Health and wellbeing resources were put in the monthly eNews to farmers and counselling services continued with farmers being able to access free counselling sessions.
Health and wellbeing activities delivered during the reporting period included:
Counselling service to dairy farmers (by trained counsellor) – this is a referral service for any farmers who express interest/need. An increase in this service occurred over during this 12 month period.
H&W resources have been put in monthly eloop we have highlighted Mental Health Month
Wellbeing coach delivered a session at a dairy discussion group meeting
2 ladies lunches were delivered with over 100 people attending
Health checks were available for farmers at the central conference
Speakers that discussed mental health attended dairy innovation day
This project provided the SA dairy community with easy access to health and wellbeing initiatives through social interaction, counselling services, guest speakers and information to ensure that they are well equipped to deal with any challenges they personally or the industry may face. The access to counselling services has been particularly useful and by having a monthly reminder in the e news of resources available the applicants have been able to keep H&W in the spotlight.
The Wellbeing Project has been a long-standing function of the SADIF fund. It has over the years seen various iterations as managed by Dairy SA.
In 2025 Dairy SA underwent significant internal changes and an application for the continuance of the funding has not been received for the 2025-2026 year.
SADIF has not taken any steps to seek a further application from Dairy SA in relation to ongoing funding.
Under Dairy Well Being Project $36,000, SADIF notes that as part of the SA Government’s drought package, there has been significant investment in mental health, including the “Weather it Together” program supported by SA Dairyfarmers Association and Primary Producers SA.