Your guide to planning safe, supportive mental health events in farming communities
You understand your community better than anyone. That’s why we created Tackling the Tough Topics, a practical, step-by-step guide to help you plan events that support mental health and wellbeing in farming communities.
What’s inside the guide:
- 14 key questions to guide your planning.
- Practical templates to ensure your event runs smoothly and achieves its objectives.
- Case studies from rural events and top tips that provide valuable insights.
- Guidance on selecting and preparing guest speakers, ensuring they are well-briefed about your farming community’s unique needs and challenges.
This guide is designed to help you create events that feel safe and supportive for everyone involved. You can find out more about the development of the guide in this Q&A with NCFH project officer Sally Cunningham.
Start planning today and make a meaningful difference in your community’s mental health and wellbeing.
Click on the button below and take our short survey to download the guide.
Real world impacts: Tackling the Tough Topics in action
In 2025, over 200 applicants used Tackling the Tough Topics to plan events as part of the Look Over the Farm Gate community events, funded by Agriculture Victoria.
Feedback shows the guide was useful, and helped communities successfully plan their drought support events. Read more about the events that successfully used the guide.
“In the planning phase for this event there was lots of community interest and funding/support from several organisations. We already had skills in running community events, but Tackling the Tough Topics gave us an ability to work together effectively and to remain very focused on our objectives.”
Film screening event – Fish Creek, Victoria
“Having the guidelines available gave us confidence that we were approaching things the right way. It helped us move beyond just hosting a social night – we were able to create something that had real meaning and impact.”
Night golf event – Boorhaman, Victoria
Want to know how to apply Tackling the Tough Topics?
Watch Sally Cunningham and Sarah Crosthwaite in this 50-minute webinar as they walk you through the guide, share practical advice and offer insights to help you create a successful event tailored for your community.
“Found the webinar specific on numerous topics. Clear concise understanding of how to run an event. Easy to understand and put into practice. Thank you.”
Louise, Victoria
“Looking forward to using the guidelines for our event at the end of the year-sober in the country. Plus, other events l am sure.”
Joanna, south-west Victoria
“Will definitely be promoting this resource to others.”
Jeanice, central Victoria
“Thank you. Sarah’s slides about speaker guildelines were great and I will share them with my team.”
Felicity, Victoria
Your feedback is important to us!
Have you used Tackling the Tough Topics to plan an event? We’d love to hear how it went!
Your feedback helps us improve the guide and make sure it continues to meet the needs of farming communities.
Important information
For enquiries regarding these guidelines please contact:
This resource was developed with funding support from Western Victoria Primary Health Network under the Australian Government’s Primary Health Networks Program.
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