The Back on Track team is inviting farming community members, local leaders, service providers, and stakeholders with an interest in rural mental health and wellbeing to attend a series of post-trial community consultations in the North East, Gippsland and South West of Victoria this March.
Back on Track is an innovative peer-guided mental health initiative designed to support farming communities experiencing low mood and depression. The program was co-designed with farmers and delivered by trained local coaches who understand farm life and the challenges faced by agricultural communities.
In 2024–25, a feasibility trial of Back on Track was conducted across three Victorian dairy regions to explore how a locally delivered peer-led support model could work in practice, including recruitment and training of coaches, participant engagement, and alignment with the behavioural activation model at the heart of the program.
Now that the trial has concluded and findings are being analysed, the Back on Track team will be visiting each region to share project insights, gather community feedback and discuss next steps. Sessions are open to anyone interested in the mental health and wellbeing of farming communities, including farmers, community leaders, service providers, agricultural industry representatives, and mental health stakeholders.
Selected Back on Track Coaches who delivered the program during the trial will attend several consultations to share reflections on their experience working with participants in their communities.
Consultation schedule:
North East (Tallangatta)
• Tuesday 3 March | 11:00am–1:00pm | Tallangatta Integrated Community Centre
• Tuesday 3 March | 6:00pm–8:00pm | Victoria Hotel, Tallangatta
Gippsland (Maffra)
• Wednesday 4 March | 6:00pm–8:00pm | Maffra Community Sports Club
• Thursday 5 March | 10:00am–12:00pm | Maffra Hall
South West (Camperdown)
• Wednesday 11 March | 11:00am–1:00pm | Killara Centre, Camperdown
• Wednesday 11 March | 6:00pm–8:00pm | Hampden Hotel, Camperdown
Sessions are free to attend and catering provided. Attendees are encouraged to register in advance.
RSVP by 28 February at the button below.
The Back on Track project was funded by the Gardiner Foundation and led by the National Centre for Farmer Health with research support from universities and health service partners.
Media contact:
Anna Greene
Project Manager – Back on Track
Phone: 03 5551 8533
Email: BoT@wdhs.net
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