Rural Alive and Well

WHO ARE WE

Rural Alive & Well is a not for profit initiative being auspiced by the Southern Midlands Council to raise awareness of and supporting the well being of rural communities. The management committee consists of Community representatives including The TFGA, Southern Midlands and Central Highlands Councils, public health, church groups, 8X5 wool program, Department of Primary Industries & Water and other interested Community persons.

OUR OBJECTIVES 

Rural Alive and Well is a community suicide prevention project that was developed in response to the extreme drought conditions prevalent in the Southern Midlands and Central Highlands of Tasmania. It addresses the emotional and physical trauma experienced by men (especially farmers), their families and the general community. Project initiatives include farm visits and house calls, suicide awareness training programs and service referrals. The scope of Rural Alive and Well also includes men's physical health issues, community resilience building, and awareness raising.

Our objectives are to help build the resilience and capacity of men, their families and the Community to react to challenging life experiences including mental health issues with a specific focus on suicide through:

• Providing support and assistance to Communities to assist them to respond to crisis and to cope and/or recover after adversity.
• Establishing structures and networks to assist men, their families and Communities to deal with suicide and related issues.
• Providing counselling for men and their families at risk of mental health problems and suicide.
• Developing and implementing strategies in Communities to reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues and suicidal behaviours for men & families seeking help.
• Harnessing the cooperation and good will of key leaders in the Community, local Community services and support groups to respond to suicidality.

We acknowledge the funding support of:

• the Australian Department of Health and Ageing, through the National Suicide Prevention Strategy
• Southern Midlands Council
• Central Highlands Council
• Tasmania Farmers and Graziers Association

ABOUT OUR PROJECT COORDINATOR

Vyv is the son of a Police Officer and grew up at Bushy Park in Tasmania and spent many years helping out on the family dairy farm at Bream Creek. Vyv has a life long passion for motorcycles, which he shares with his wife Connie, boats and family life, and maintains a strong commitment to improving the opportunities for people to understand and cope with life's adversities.

Vyv has a background in Counselling, Mediation & Training and holds a   Graduate Diploma of Couple Therapy from the University of NSW. He has worked as a Suicide Intervention / Crisis Counsellor for over 20 years.

FARM VISITS

Rural outreach workers spend a lot of time on the road, making individual house calls to men on their remote farming properties. These visits can be 'cold calls' or referrals from a number of different sources. Rural outreach workers will often 'have a chat over a cuppa' with the farmers, making enquiries about their mental state and if appropriate referring them to other services.

RURAL OUTREACH WORKER

Wayne is originally from the North West Coast having spent his youth on the family farm at Wynyard. He served in the Tasmanian Police force for almost 20 years, working in Uniform and Criminal Investigation Branches; he also worked as Officer in Charge of rural police stations, and retired in 1995 at the rank of Detective Sergeant. He and his wife Tracey purchased the Bronte Park General Store as a modest business and over the next 13 years rebuilt and expanded the business.  They purchased property and built their home at Bronte Park where they both currently reside.  Tracey Turale is the Primary Health Care Coordinator for the Central Highlands and having lived and built a business in the Highlands, Wayne is well versed in the challenges facing rural communities. Tracey and Wayne spend most of their recreational time in the Central Highlands bushwalking, hunting and fly fishing.  Wayne has travelled extensively through North America and Canada following these recreational pursuits.  Wayne has been working as a fly fishing guide/instructor for Ken Orrs Trout Expeditions for 2 years and is very passionate about our unique Central Highlands environment and the people who make it their home.  He is committed to advancing and accessing services for our rural community to assist with the serious challenges that face us in the current financial and climatic environment.

SUICIDE AWARENESS RAISING & TRAINING

Rural Alive and Well organises the following training programs:

• Mental Health First Aid
• ASIST
• safeTALK.

Below are two (2) brochures which provides more information about the program and important contact information:

raw brochure (66 kb)

raw important contacts flyer (218 kb) 

Vyv Alomes - Program Co-ordinator/Rural Outreach Worker

Ph: 6259 3014 or 0428 333 517

Email: valomes@southernmidlands.tas.gov.au

All Mail to: Rural Alive and Well Program -9 Blackwell Road, Melton Mowbray, Tas., 7030.