Rural Aid, Media Release, 24 November 2025

Rural Aid has released its 2024/25 Impact Report, revealing a year where practical assistance, mental health and wellbeing and community-led recovery helped thousands of farming families withstand worsening pressures across rural Australia.

Rural Aid has seen new registrations of farming families double compared to the previous year, reflecting the growing strain on rural households. Registrations surged in drought affected South Australia and Victoria, where farming families faced deepening feed shortages, falling water supplies and mounting financial stress.

Throughout the year, Rural Aid provided vital, practical assistance that helped stabilise farming families during adversity protecting their wellbeing and livelihoods. This included:

• Nearly 1,500 farming families supported, with 28 per cent of those accessing more than one type of assistance
• Almost 10,000 hay bales delivered to help farmers keep stock alive and reduce the emotional and financial burden of destocking.
• 170 water tanks deliveries and nearly 12 million litres of household water giving families reliable access to safe water. A basic need that becomes precarious during prolonged dry conditions.
• Financial assistance provided to more than 530 farming families, easing immediate pressures so farmers can stay on their land and continue operations.
• 145 volunteers contributing over 5,500 hours across 35 farms, reducing isolation and helping farmers complete work that would otherwise be impossible under stress.

Beyond practical aid, Rural Aid’s support extends to the heart of rural life, helping families, schools and communities strengthen wellbeing and resilience. This year, nearly 2,000 free counselling sessions were delivered to farmers and their families navigating natural disasters, anxiety, financial uncertainty and cumulative stress. While the Mustering Growth schools program equipped nine schools with tools to build mental resilience in children, helping secure the wellbeing of the next generation of rural Australia.

Through its community development program, Rural Aid worked alongside 15 towns to deliver locally led projects that enhance liveability, create stronger connections, and support long-term recovery.

Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said the results reflected the organisation’s holistic approach to supporting rural Australia.

“Rural Aid is there for farmers and their communities before, during and after natural disasters,” Mr Warlters said. “Our work goes beyond immediate relief, it’s about standing alongside our farmers to help them prepare, recover and rebuild.”

This year, Rural Aid supported communities impacted by the Western Queensland floods, the ongoing South Australian drought, and flooding across the Mid-North Coast of New South Wales, ensuring families received immediate assistance and long-term recovery support.

“Rural Aid’s mission is to stand with farmers in every part of their journey before, during and after disasters” Mr Warlters said. “Their wellbeing, their livelihoods and their communities remain at the heart of everything we do.”

With the ongoing commitment of our partners and supporters, Rural Aid can continue to grow its reach and impact, ensuring farming families across the country have access to practical help, emotional care and community connection when they need it most.

Together, we can ensure farmers and rural communities receive the support they need when it matters most. Right now, you can Buy a Bale or Fill a Tank to help farming families through summer. Donate today at www.buyabale.ruralaid.org.au.

The Rural Aid 2024/25 Impact Report forms part of Rural Aid’s Annual Report, available at www.ruralaid.org.au/annual-reports/2024-2025/.

About Rural Aid:

Rural Aid is Australia’s leading rural charity, committed to supporting farmers and rural communities through good times and tough. Since 2015, Rural Aid has been a vital lifeline in times of hardship, delivering practical assistance such as mental health counselling, hay, drinking water, and community connection initiatives. Now celebrating 10 years of service, the organisation continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with rural Australians, helping them overcome hardship, build resilience, and create stronger, more sustainable futures.