Farmer Wants a Healthy Life

West Wimmera Health Service

Jam packed with stories from people that understand the farming life with a story to tell. From new farmers and the old hands, rural community locals, doctors and more. People that understand the farming life with a story to tell. Hosted by Brigitte Muir. The Farmer Wants a Healthy Life podcast series are stories of looking after you, whilst on the farm. The choices you make can change your life; hear it from those that have done it. West Wimmera Health Service created this series with the support of representatives from: • Grain Producers Australia • Grains Research & Development Corporation • National Centre for Farmer Health • Nhill & District Young Farmers • Rural Outreach Program • Southern Mallee Landcare Network • Victorian Farmers Federation •West Wimmera Health Service’s Allied Health Department • Wimmera Hearing Society

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  1. Episode 1

    Out of the Tunnel of Grief

    In this episode we hear from Margaret Millington about the impact death has had on her life. She shares the lessons she has learnt from losing people she loves, and the need to be aware of dangers. She also talks about what brought her to the Wimmera and how it offered her a chance for renewal.   Interested in the topic and looking for more? Margaret shared her experiences of grief and what helped her. Find more on grief at: Health Direct Better Health Channel Beyond Blue Margaret lost her daughter in a farm accident.  Find more on farm safety at: National Centre for Farmer Health Work Safe Making Our Farms Safer project-or hear about it on our eps: The Auditor – Man on a Mission The Audited – Safety from the Dining Room Table Find more on children’s farm safety at: Farm Safe Australia Better Health Channel A Parent’s Guide to Kidsafe Farms Farm Safety Child Safety on Farms Injury Risk and Safety Behaviours of Children on Victorian Farms Margaret had two sons involved in accidents on the road. Find more on road safety at: Staying Safe Road Safety Driving on country roads: how to stay safe Safely Driving on Country Roads Work Safe Margaret's son became an accidental addict to painkillers.  But what is addiction? Find more at: Health Direct Turning Point You, or someone you care about struggling with addiction? Find support at: Online counselling 24hr phone support Alcohol and Drug Support Drug and Alcohol rehabilitation Check out our eps on gambling harm : Not Worth the Gamble The Hidden Harm Send us Fan Mail Facebook: @FarmerWantsaHealthyLife                    Twitter: @_FWAHL

    Out of the Tunnel of Grief

  2. Episode 2

    Moving Marnoo

    In this episode we hear from Tania Walter about how she is helping farmers to be more active in Marnoo. She shares her passion for running the group and the joy it brings to her and others that come. She also talks about how her and her husband run a bio-dynamic farm and how that came about.  Interested in the topic and looking for more? Has listening to Tania inspired you to put more movement in your life? Not sure where or how best to start? Check out these websites for tips, advice, and ideas on how to start and putting more movement in your days. Better Health Channel Health Direct National Centre for Farmer Health You Got This Mate! Thinking of joining a group like Tania’s Farm Fit group? Maybe an Active Farmers groups is for you. Active Farmers is a regular group fitness class program that is fun and interactive. It is designed to get people active and create a sense of community and belonging. There are Active Farmer groups in rural towns around Australia, you can find one near you here. You can find more information on each of the below aspects of Active Farmers below: EventsBecoming a participantStarting your own Active Farmers groupHealth workshopsOnline classesYou can also listen to our Farmer Wants a Healthy Life episodes of people that have been part of Active Farmers: Guys Just Wanna Have Fun Social Side of Exercise Tania talked a bit about how exercise can help people with their mental wellbeing. Want to learn more about how exercise can help mental wellbeing? Check out the below websites for more information: Better Health Channel Health Direct Headspace For other tips and advice to help reduce stress you can also check out: Better Health Channel Health Direct You can also listen to our Farmer Wants a Healthy Life episode The Ins and Outs of Stress.  In the episode Tania talked about her and her husband’s farm and some of the things that happen there. Interested in finding out more about it? Check out their website and social media pages below. Burrum Biodynamics Facebook: @BurrumBiodynamics Twitter: @burrumbio Instagram: burrumbiodynamics Send us Fan Mail Facebook: @FarmerWantsaHealthyLife                    Twitter: @_FWAHL

    Moving Marnoo

  3. Episode 3

    Tell Your Story Once

    In this episode we hear from Mandy Noble, a Service System Navigator with The Orange Door Horsham. Mandy talks about what The Orange Door is and how it came about. She also talks about Family Violence and its different forms.  In an emergency call 000 If you live in the Wimmera and need support, you can contact The Orange Door in Horsham by: Calling 1800 271 042 Or find them at 3-7 Madden St, Horsham. Don’t live in the Wimmera and need support? You can find other The Orange Door locations and phone numbers here.  You can also call free confidential counselling services 24/7: In Victoria – Safe Steps call 1800 015 188 or visit their website. Across Australia – 1800 RESPECT call 1800 737 732 or visit their website. Interested in the topic and looking for more? If you would like to learn more about The Orange Door, you can visit their website here. You can also watch a short video in The Orange Door here. Other Family and Domestic Violence services available to support people are: Safe StepsSafe and Equal1800 RESPECT  Mandy mentioned The Orange Door often works with other organisations in the Wimmera. Check out their websites below for more on what they offer: Victorian Legal Aid Youth Law Goolum Goolum Uniting Wimmera   In the episode Mandy used the terms ‘Victim Survivor’ and ‘Perpetrator’ a lot. Not sure what they mean? Or would like to learn more about Family and Domestic Violence terms? Check out this Victorian Government website for a full list of common terms used.    Want to learn more about Family and Domestic Violence and the different forms it can take? Check out a short video by The Orange Door here. You can also find out more information at: Better Health Channel 1800 RESPECT   Mandy spoke briefly about how gender inequality impacts Family and Domestic Violence. Women’s Health Grampians does a lot of work toward reducing gender inequality. To find out more about this work check out their website.  Send us Fan Mail Facebook: @FarmerWantsaHealthyLife                    Twitter: @_FWAHL

    Tell Your Story Once

  4. Episode 4

    Farmer's Best Friend

    In this episode we hear from Kelly Barnes about what led her to start the Mates Dog School. Kelly shares her passion for her dogs and how they have helped her mental health, and how she uses it to help others. She also talks about the way we as people, especially farmers, see dogs in our lives. Interested in the topic and looking for more? Want to hear more about Kelly’s Mates Dog School? Check out the Mates Dog School Facebook page. You can also find articles about the school done on the: National Centre for Farmer Health ABC  Kelly won the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award in 2020, which lead to the Mates Dog School. You can watch Kelly talking about the award and the school here. Find more information about the award and other past winners here.  AgriFutures does a lot of other work supporting rural communities. Find out more about AgriFutures and how they could support your idea here.    Kelly got the idea for the Mates Dog School from time spent with her own dog Dugald. There are many ways pets, especially dogs, can benefit our health. Check out the below for some of the other benefits:  7 ways pets improve your health Five mental health benefits of pet ownership  Kelly began first seeing her relationship with Dugald differently after her Fibromyalgia diagnosis. Not sure what Fibromyalgia is? Or want to learn more about it? Check out:  Health DirectBetter Health Channel Fibromyalgia can cause chronic pain for those that have it. To hear more about chronic pain, check out our episodes:  Understanding Chronic PainLiving Your Best Life with PainSend us Fan Mail Facebook: @FarmerWantsaHealthyLife                    Twitter: @_FWAHL

    Farmer's Best Friend

  5. Episode 5

    At Home in the Garden

    In this episode we hear from Anna Johansson on her experience of being a Swedish woman on an Aussie farm. Anna shares her joy of growing and eating her own food. She also shares how she finds happiness outside of the money-making rat race.  You can see Anna’s home grown produce and some of what she makes with them on her farm’s Facebook and Instagram pages.  Interested in the topic and looking for more? Looking after yourself is one of the most important things you can do for your health. This is especially true for your mental health. Did you know self-care is about doing things that help your overall wellbeing? Not just a special indulgence? It can include things like gardening, and we have heard all about the obvious joy it brings to Anna’s life. Find more self-care tips at: Beyond Blue Black Dog Institute   Gardening can also be a form of mindfulness, find out more here. You can also find out more about mindfulness and meditation techniques at: Smiling Mind Headspace Health Direct  Anna and Tim are basically self-sufficient on their farm, want to know more about how do it yourself? Check out Australian Organic Products and Sustainable Gardening for more information. Anna also talked about using plants instead of pesticides to stop pests, want to know more about how? Check out: Sustainable Gardening Gardening Australia Growing Your Own Food at Home in Salisbury: Natural Pest Management factsheet  Send us Fan Mail Facebook: @FarmerWantsaHealthyLife                    Twitter: @_FWAHL

    At Home in the Garden

  6. Episode 6

    Child Safe Farms

    In this episode we hear from Jessie Adams from the National Centre for Farmer Health. Jessie shares how she is working toward making farms safer for children. She shares her top tips for what you can do now, and programs currently running.  Interested in the topic and looking for more? Want to hear more about the surveys Jessie did? You can find out more information here. In the episode Jessie mentioned the VFF Children on Farms Handbook. The Handbook, part of the Making Our Farms Safer project, can be downloaded here. For more information on the project check out their website. The Handbook was created as part of the Making Our Farm Families Safer campaign. The campaign also includes a range of videos which you can find here.  Don’t forget to check out our episodes on the Making Our Farms Safer farm safety audits too: The Auditor – Man on a Mission The Audited – Safety from the Dining Room Table   You can also find a range of tips and resources on children’s farm safety at: Farm Safe Australia Inc Better Health Channel Kidsafe – A Parent’s Guide to Kidsafe Farms Kidsafe – Farm Safety National Centre for Farmer Health – Child Safety on Farms National Centre for Farmer Health – Injury Risk and Safety Behaviours of Children on Victorian Farms   Jessie also talked about a program aimed at high school students called Gear Up for Ag. The program aims to increase knowledge of farm hazards and safe practices for teens. You can find out more about the program here.  Send us Fan Mail Facebook: @FarmerWantsaHealthyLife                    Twitter: @_FWAHL

    Child Safe Farms

  7. Episode 7

    The Outback Mind

    In this episode we hear from Aaron Schultz on his journey to better health for himself and men in the country. Aaron shares how alcohol, anxiety and exercise have shaped his life. He also shares what made him start The Outback Mind and his hopes for its future. The Outback Mind Foundation - website, Facebook and Instagram.  Or listen to the podcast via the website, Spotify, Podbean or iTunes. Interested in the topic and looking for more? Aaron talked about alcohol effect on his life. Concerned how its impacting yours? Get support at: Sober in the Country Hello Sunday Morning Alcoholics anonymous Turning Point For information about alcohol impacts on health, check out: Better Health Channel National Centre for Farmer Health Aaron's anxiety diagnosis was a turning point for him. But what is anxiety? Find more at: Beyond Blue Health Direct Black Dog Institute Exercise helps Aaron with his anxiety. Are you a man? Live in rural Australia? Want to exercise more? Check out You Got This Mate. Or find an Active Farmers group near you. Check out our episodes for more: Guys Just Wanna Have Fun Social Side of Exercise Our other episodes on exercise and mental health:  AFL to Life with Depression The Mental Tips The Art of Listening Not Worth the Gamble The Hidden Harm The Ins and Outs of Stress Attitude is Everything Meditation was another thing that helped Aaron. Interested in starting? Check out Headspace and Health Direct. Or Smiling Mind for guided meditation videos. Live in rural Australia?  Want mental health support and information? Check out: Are you Bogged Mate? You Got This Mate National Centre for Farmer Health or access the online psychology service  here.  Send us Fan Mail Facebook: @FarmerWantsaHealthyLife                    Twitter: @_FWAHL

    The Outback Mind

  8. Episode 8

    The Gambling Rollercoaster

    In this episode we hear from Jan Brunswick about how her partner’s gambling affected her. Jan shares how she tried to help and the reasons she stayed as long as she did. She also shares why she left them for good and how she helps others in the same position now.  Interested in the topic and looking for more? Are you like Jan needing support because of someone’s gambling? The following gambling services are there to help you and them: Gamblers Help or call 1800 858 858Cafs - Gamblers Help or call 1800 692 237Or go to the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation to find a service near youYou can also check out these websites for tips and advice on helping someone your worried about: Gamblers Help Better Health Channel In the episode Jan talked a lot about the impact her partner’s gambling had on their finances. If you are in a similar position, there are services available to help: Financial counselling services: Rural Financial Counselling Service Victoria West or call 1300 735 578Bethany Community SupportCafsJan found that the 12 Step Program was and is a very useful thing for her whilst dealing with gambling harm. But what is the 12 Step Program? Find out more about it here. The program is well known to be used by those with an addiction. Find out more about these groups below and where to find them near you at: Gamblers Anonymous AustraliaAlcoholics AnonymousIn the episode Jan mentioned she attended Al-Anon and Gam-Anon. These groups are for those affected by others drinking or gambling, like Jan was.    Jan talked about how she volunteers, helping others affected by gambling. One of the programs Jan mentioned is the ReSPIN program where she shares her story with others. The other program was the Peer Connection program, listening to those going through what she did.    If you would like to learn more about gambling harm you can go to Gamblers Help or Health Direct. You can also check out our other episodes: Not Worth the Gamble The Hidden Harm Send us Fan Mail Facebook: @FarmerWantsaHealthyLife                    Twitter: @_FWAHL

    The Gambling Rollercoaster

  9. Episode 9

    Land and People Working Together

    In this episode we hear from Mary Johnson on working with, rather than on, the land. Mary shares her experiences of growing up on the farm and how she has developed a strong connection to the land. She also talks about the benefits of working together and time off the farm.  Interested in the topic and looking for more? In the episode Mary talked about the importance of volunteers to small towns, are you interested in volunteering? Nor sure where to start? Volunteering Victoria lists a range of platforms you can search for opportunities on Centre for Participation has many opportunities across the WimmeraYou could also volunteer as part of a local service club, sport club or community group  Mary spoke about the benefits of working with, rather than on, the land and some of the practices she found to do this. These practices included regeneration and revegetation, want to learn more about them? Check out these factsheets: Conservation Management Notes: Managing Bushland and Wildlife HabitatNatural Regeneration: Practices and Practice  Mary spoke of how her time on the farm was a chance to recharge her batteries and how it made her feel better. Yet, this was not the same for Philip who spends all his time on the farm. For Philip and other farmers, Mary talked about the importance of time off the farm. For information about why this is important and tips for doing so checkout Farm Strong. You can also find a recent ABC story of how other farmers have managed taking time off the farm here.  Taking time off the farm can also be a way of helping with stress. For other tips on managing stress on the farm go to the National Centre for Farmer Health. For general tips with stress go to: Better Health Channel Health Direct Or check out our episode The Ins and Outs of Stress Send us Fan Mail Facebook: @FarmerWantsaHealthyLife                    Twitter: @_FWAHL

    Land and People Working Together

  10. Episode 10

    More to Me than Farming

    In this episode we hear from Nick Blandford about the impact self-worth has had on his life. He shares what a community program helped him realise about himself and being a farmer. He also talks about what supports are out there for farmers now and what he would like to see for them in future.  Interested in the topic and looking for more? What is self-worth? Find out at BetterHelp. Or find other tips and information if you are feeling worthless at Health Direct.  Did you know self-worth and self-esteem are different? How? Find out here. Find more about self-esteem and tips to help: Better Health ChannelHealth DirectNick saw his GP and got a mental health plan. But what is it and how can it help? Check out: Health Direct Better Health Channel Headspace Want to volunteer at Landcare or the CFA like Nick? Find one near you at: Landcare Australia  CFA Not sure those groups are for you? Check out other volunteering opportunities:  Volunteering Victoria Centre for Participation Contact your local service club, sport club or community groupOr listen to our episodes below: Alone, but not LonelyThe Hidden HarmNot Worth the GambleThe Wimmera Pride ProjectNick  said the National Centre for Farmer Health is a great asset for farmers. But how? Find Health and Wellbeing fact sheets here or online psychology service available here. Find the National Farmers Federal Wellbeing report Nick mentioned here. Not heard of Farmers for Climate Action group before? Find it here. Nick get you thinking about farm succession? Find information on why its important here. Check out the fact sheet here or find other key information here Send us Fan Mail Facebook: @FarmerWantsaHealthyLife                    Twitter: @_FWAHL

    More to Me than Farming
See All Season 4 (10)

About

Jam packed with stories from people that understand the farming life with a story to tell. From new farmers and the old hands, rural community locals, doctors and more. People that understand the farming life with a story to tell. Hosted by Brigitte Muir. The Farmer Wants a Healthy Life podcast series are stories of looking after you, whilst on the farm. The choices you make can change your life; hear it from those that have done it. West Wimmera Health Service created this series with the support of representatives from: • Grain Producers Australia • Grains Research & Development Corporation • National Centre for Farmer Health • Nhill & District Young Farmers • Rural Outreach Program • Southern Mallee Landcare Network • Victorian Farmers Federation •West Wimmera Health Service’s Allied Health Department • Wimmera Hearing Society

Information

  • Creator
    West Wimmera Health Service
  • Episodes
    39
  • Seasons
    4
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Farmer Wants a Healthy Life
  • Show Website
    Farmer Wants a Healthy Life