Location: Gateforth Farm

Referral Source: In-field Check-In (RAW Staff)

Fiona lives with her husband and daughter on their family farm, where they grow peony flowers. After years working in the mining industry in Western Australia, Fiona and her husband travelled around Australia before returning to Tasmania to take over the family property. By all accounts, life on the farm was full and busy, but privately, Fiona was carrying the weight of a difficult childhood and unresolved trauma.

During a routine visit to the area, RAW staff member Crystal stopped by the farm to check in. Fiona was in the middle of peak harvest and, like many in rural communities, her instinct was to brush off the idea of needing support. They chatted briefly about the flowers, the farm, and the busy season. Crystal simply handed Fiona her card, letting her know she was there if she ever needed to talk.

Fiona tucked the card away, not realising how important it would become.

Weeks later, Fiona experienced a moment that changed everything. While rushing her daughter Ruby to the bus, Fiona felt herself becoming overwhelmed and reactive. When a small comment triggered an unexpectedly intense emotional response, she saw the fear in her daughter’s face and immediately knew something wasn’t right.

“That was a real turning point for me,” Fiona later shared. “I realised there was this stuff inside me that I had pushed down my whole life. I didn’t want to pass that pain on to my daughter.”

Feeling shaken and unable to return to the farm, Fiona remembered Crystal’s card. She called, crying and unsure what to do. Crystal told her to stay where she was and arrived moments later.

What followed was the beginning of Fiona’s journey toward healing. Through RAW’s support, she found a space free of judgment, a place where she could finally process her past instead of carrying it alone.

“RAW is an organisation that wants you to know that you will not be judged,” Fiona said. “It’s an unconditional place. Making that phone call changed my life.”

Over time, Fiona built the confidence to face long-held trauma and to find healthier ways of navigating stress, parenting, and farm life. She now feels equipped to move forward with clarity and connection, knowing support is only a phone call away.

“Don’t be scared to be yourself,” Fiona says. “It’s okay not to be okay. RAW is an example of how humans are meant to help each other — and we’re so lucky to have it in our community.”