Don’t Call Us ‘Resilient’- Getting mental health support for your community How do you feel when your town or region is called ‘resilient’? It seems a lot of rural people are tired of hearing this word and instead would rather genuine, well-funded support for the mental health. According to Rural and Remote Mental Health (RRMH), the rates of suicide in regional Australia are two times higher than the national average. In rural areas, it’s three times higher. Chair of RRMH Genevieve Fraser says r...
Oct 27, 2022•37 min•Season 3Ep. 8
You may be a rural woman at heart, but that doesn’t mean you can’t operate a global empire (or at least, tap into overseas markets). In this episode, we meet two women who left Australia and set up unique businesses overseas, by capitalising on their rural identities. And these days you don’t even need to leave country Australia for world domination: both guests talk about how social media marketing has opened up new networks across the globe. Hear from: * Jess Pryles – Hardcore Carnivore , spec...
Oct 12, 2022•35 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Yes, it’s clear. Research shows it is harder to access abortion services in rural Australia compared with metro areas. So, in this episode we ask, why is that? Abortion has now been decriminalised in all states and territories, moving from the criminal code to be covered under health policy. But is abortion really being treated like any other women’s health service? In rural areas, it can be hard to find a GP who will prescribe abortion services and sometimes there aren’t any local pharmacists w...
Sep 28, 2022•24 min•Season 3Ep. 6
On average, 79 Australians die every year in farm accidents, making farming one of the most dangerous occupations in the country. So, what can we do to turn this around? Approaching farmers with a rule book is unlikely to work. But rural women are often in a unique position to influence health and safety culture. Many of us have worked off-farm in large organisations which already have a strong safety culture. And many of us take up the admin and HR role while raising young kids. So, in this epi...
Sep 14, 2022•34 min•Season 3Ep. 5
When you're part of a farming enterprise it can be hard to figure out whether you're better off working on the farm or pursuing a career off the farm. So, in this episode, we try to try to measure it. The off-farm work is fairly easy to understand; you have a payslip which tells you how much you earn. But how do you financially measure the hours you put into doing the books, or helping out with lamb marking or picking up parts in town? We look at how you can sit down and do the sums, as well as ...
Aug 31, 2022•38 min•Season 3Ep. 4
It took until 2019 for TV advertisements for sanitary products to stop using ‘blue dye’ to symbolise menstrual blood. So why do periods make us feel so uncomfortable? But the awkward feeling is just the start of the problem. By not talking about periods and pelvic floors, women aren’t getting the medical help they need, the right support in the workplace and even research into women’s health is being negatively affected. For rural women, a lack of access to specialist women’s health practitioner...
Aug 17, 2022•34 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Let's be honest, the perception of a "life coach" isn't always the best. The term can be associated with cult-like 'personal development' courses or well meaning 'wellness' types, who may not have the experience or credentials for a such a title. But then, who does? There's no university degree in "life coaching," but, there's no handbook to life either. So, while we can never be sure what should be on the "CV" of a life coach, in this episode we meet two highly recommended women: Rebel Black - ...
Aug 03, 2022•42 min•Season 1Ep. 22
There’s a saying, ‘you can’t have the love without the loss.’ The great love you have for someone, means the pain of losing them will equally be as great. But how do you actually cope with such profound grief, especially when the loss is sudden? And how do you best help a friend who is suddenly struck by tragedy? In this episode, Grampians Estate winery owner, Sarah Guthrie talks about her own grief journey, after her 17-year-old son, Ford, died in a car accident near the family home on Australi...
Jul 20, 2022•41 min•Season 1Ep. 21
We're back! Coming up in Season 3, we're tackling the topics you WON'T hear at a local potluck casserole night or scone bake off. This includes access to abortion in rural and regional areas, dealing with grief and trauma and plenty of business insights from rural women with online empires and even good ol' fashioned shop fronts. Also, we have some exciting updates to share about how YOU can get involved in the podcast, from sponsorship opportunities and upcoming promotions (including giveaways!...
Jul 13, 2022•5 min•Season 1Ep. 20
No one likes sexism on the farm… but could the tools you work with and the clothes you're wearing be guilty? If you’ve ever been frustrated about not being able to drench a sheep or shovel the grain as well as the blokes… maybe it’s NOT YOU. Research shows many of the tools used on farms have been created “for the average body type” - or rather, the average male body type. This doesn't factor in our smaller hands or that we don’t have the same upper body strength as men. So don’t blame yourself,...
Apr 27, 2022•31 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Farming is not often associated with creativity and the Arts. But perhaps that needs to change? Especially if we want to make agriculture an attractive career option to young people in the city. In this episode, we meet two smart, rural women who are using their artistic flair to reach people who wouldn't normally be interested in agriculture. Hear from: Lynne Strong - National Program Director, Art4Agriculture and farmer at Jamberoo, NSW. Lynne is internationally recognised for designing leader...
Apr 13, 2022•29 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Rural towns often get a bad rap for holding onto old ideas and lacking diversity. Are we as accepting and inclusive of our LGBTI community in the country, as they are in the city? We hear from two women, who have had very different experiences: Kerrie Stanley - a hair and makeup artist, who grew up on a cane farm in Proserpine, QLD. She had to move away from the country to discover she was gay. (She was also four months pregnant and in a relationship with a man, when she finally realised!) Kirst...
Mar 30, 2022•48 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Once upon a time, coaches were strictly for sport. Now you can get a coach for just about everything, including business. In this episode we look at what a business coach actually does and at what stage in a business, you should be thinking about getting one. There's growing recognition that the way to grow a business is to be working ON the business, not just IN the business. We take a specifically rural perspective on this (of course!), looking at how to grow wealth and assets in a farming bus...
Mar 16, 2022•38 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Women are still only inheriting about 10% of family farms in Australia. The reasons behind this are historical and complex. But what's at play when a woman (or "farmer's daughter") decides she doesn't want to go back to take over the family farm? Is because she has better career options off-farm or does it point to gender bias in society? In this episode, Kirsten and Jackie discuss the underlying reasons behind saying "no" to the family farm, how this affects succession and how to have difficult...
Mar 02, 2022•45 min•Season 1Ep. 15
It’s so hard to watch someone you love, struggle with their mental health, especially when they aren’t getting the help they need. Rural men in particular seem to be among the most hesitant to open up and look after their own mental health... which can be frustrating for us women! So what’s the best way to start the conversation? While this podcast is for women… as anyone in a rural community knows, the rates of suicide amongst our men is alarming (75% of suicides in Australia are male). There h...
Feb 16, 2022•44 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Motherhood is wonderful, but it's also hard. And for some, especially new mums, it becomes overwhelming. Living in a rural area, especially if you're away from family and friends can compound these feelings. But, there is plenty of hope! In this episode hear two rural women speak candidly about how they experienced post-natal depression, overcame it, and now want to change the unhelpful (and frankly harmful!) myth of the perfect mum: Steph Trethewey - Mum, founder of the Motherland Australia pod...
Feb 02, 2022•43 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Want to cut back your alcohol consumption? A lot of us do. But Australia's drinking culture means the message to 'just have one' is all around us. Especially in the country, alcohol is everywhere - at the pub, the sporting grounds, events and even kids parties. So how do we set ourselves up for success? And is it even possible to moderate... or is quitting alcohol altogether the best option? This episode is not about being anti-alcohol, it's about changing the culture to make it "ok to say no" (...
Jan 19, 2022•43 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Telling your own story or the story of others is vital if we're ever going to bridge that rural/urban divide and challenge gender roles. So without necessarily being professional writers... how do we do it? In this episode, Kirsten and Jackie speak to three rural women, who all use different mediums (from social media, photography and film) to capture accurate and authentic representations of rural life, where women and kids feature just as much as the men: Phillipa Cameron - started an Instagra...
Oct 20, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 11
We might dream of it, but what are the realities of chasing rare adventures or living an extraordinary life? In this episode Kirsten and Jackie meet two rural women who have done just that. But along with the highs, there have been some crushing lows. Jane Richards - is now a wine producer in SA with a successful wine label . But in the early 2000s, she was was high-flyer in New York, with a multi million dollar home and luxury yacht, until it all came crashing down... and she ended up back at h...
Oct 06, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 10
You can grow up in the country, or choose to live in the country... and still have an extraordinary life. Lisa Millar, host of ABC News Breakfast and former foreign correspondent is a perfect example of this. She began her life on a dairy farm in the small QLD town of Kilkivan. But she always had big ambitions to be a journalist and to travel the world. And turns out, she did precisely that. But her success hasn't always been easy. In this episode she talks about: * Some of the big stories she c...
Sep 22, 2021•42 min•Season 1Ep. 9
When is it time to get a lawyer? And how do you know a succession plan is actually worth the paper it's written on? Kirsten and Jackie bring in property and succession lawyer, Helen Quade. She lives on a farm herself, near Condobolin, NSW. She's highly regarded in her field, not just as a solicitor who understands the law, but also for her understanding of human emotions. She says it's never too early to talk about succession planning (even introducing values and expectations to young kids!) In ...
Sep 08, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Just the thought of succession planning makes so many of us feel uncomfortable. But in this episode, we're embracing the awkward feelings ... and in fact, challenging them. Succession is not about carving up who gets what, it's planning for your future business, lifestyle and aspirations. It can actually be quite exciting. In this episode, two women share their succession stories and advice: Melissa McDonald - dairy farmer in south-west Victoria, who has gone from working for a wage on her paren...
Aug 25, 2021•35 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Are you the one who carries the mental load in your household? Well, if you're a rural woman, chances are, yes you are. It's usually women who know how much milk is in the fridge, when the school concert is on and stays across the constant flow of dishes and laundry. It might seem like these are just small, easy tasks...and they are. But when they add up ...while you're trying to run the farm or do other work, it can end up making you feel overwhelmed and mentally exhausted. So how did we women,...
Aug 11, 2021•42 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Sometimes you just stumble across a great mentor...but how can you intentionally find one? This episode looks There are great programs that can help you find a mentor… but mentorship isn’t as simple as assigning one person to another -there’s something organic about it; it can’t be forced. That said, there are steps you can take and programs you can enrol in that will make it much more likely for you to find that key person who will take you under their wing. In this episode we hear the stories ...
Jul 28, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Most successful people will tell you that finding a mentor, or really multiple mentors throughout your life, is the 'secret sauce' to their achievements. So how do you actually find one? Cathy McGowan says you find mentors and build community through turning up, speaking up and then stepping up into leadership positions. This philosophy is what got her all the way to Parliament House in 2013, when she won the Federal seat of Indi, in North East Victoria. This moment has gone down in history, wit...
Jul 14, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Are you struggling to grow your business or side hustle? Or are you even finding it hard to take the first step, to turn your idea into a reality? It has never been easier to set up your own business. And for rural women, this is a huge opportunity (given our logistical challenges!). There also seems to be growing interest in brands which use the name or reputation of specific regions in their marketing. So how can you capitalise on this? In this episode, hear from: Amanda Cochran, from the Gram...
Jun 30, 2021•33 min•Season 1Ep. 3
You say “farmer” and immediately, people think of a man. They shouldn’t, but they do. So how do you feel about the word “farmer”? Does it describe what you do - and who you are? Do you prefer “farmer’s daughter” or “farmer’s wife” - or do those terms make your blood boil? This episode features: Rachael Treasure - Author and regenerative farmer in Tasmania Debbie Dowden - Beef producer, Mount Magnet, WA Jessie Matheson - PhD candidate, Invisible Farmer Project In this episode we hear about the hi...
Jun 16, 2021•34 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Coming soon!Ducks on the Pond is a podcast by rural women, FOR rural women. It's hard to find expert advice that actually applies to the realities of your own life, when you're a woman on the land. So hosts, Kirsten Diprose and Jackie Elliot have set out to do just that.These podcasts are being released in the lead up to Rural Women's Day , 15, Oct 2021, covering a range of topics not covered in polite society - from succession planning, the challenges of motherhood, to running for politics! And...
Jun 04, 2021•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1
