Tasmania has a vast network of people working across the Livestock Industry. These individuals help supply local, national and international markets with high-quality, Tasmanian produce.
From July 2022 through to April 2023, the Livestock community moved over 658,239 beasts, with 138,018 cattle going to export markets.
It's estimated that to transfer one lot of animals (cattle, sheep, pigs, goats) to the stockyard and to it's endpoint, there are over 41 human touch points.
That's spread across:
To ensure Tasmania's livestock industry continues to grow and thrive, we first need to ensure that our people and their families working within the industry are mentally healthy and resilient.
With situational stressors being prevalent even more as drought looms, interest rates rise, and disease threats increase, the importance of building mental fitness across a critical industry increases.
RAW's one-on-one support provides the solution to supporting people during those harder seasons, with "Well-being beyond the Stockyards" becoming an annual reminder to everyone that we cannot continue to always do what we have always done when it comes to building mentally healthy and resilient rural communities.
The month is designed to reduce the barriers to help-seeking, increase awareness and encourage realistic conversations about mental health and wellbeing.
By challenging the status quo of how individuals respond to situational stressors and educating on how it impacts mental health and well-being, it’s our goal to spark a different conversation around how we each look after ourselves to ensure a thriving agricultural and primary industry sector for years to come.
Connection is important in an individual's resilience during life's challenges.
Connection is shown to have an impact on a person's mental and physical well-being, as well as benefiting other areas such as: professional success, resilience, and a sense of purpose and belonging.
By nurturing meaningful connections with others enriches our lives, enhances our overall well-being, and contributes to a happier and more fulfilling existence.
When was the last time you went to a sale and connected with your community? Stay tuned for bbq events and locations.
Sharing stories is essential for human connection and empathy, as it allows us to understand and relate to different experiences, cultures, and perspectives.
By sharing our own stories, we contribute to a collective narrative that shapes our understanding of our community and promotes a sense of belonging and unity.
Stay tuned as some of the local livestock community share their experience of some highs and lows within the industry, as well as how they prioritise their own mental health and well-being.
Empowerment encourages individuals to become active participants in their mental health journey.
It involves recognising one's needs, expressing them effectively, and advocating for appropriate support and treatment. Empowered individuals are more likely to seek help, ask questions, and communicate their concerns to mental health professionals.
Buyers, sellers and agents will combine together to demonstrate their commitment to the well-being of the Tasmanian livestock community by raising funds to support RAW's work supporting youth on farms and within primary industry sectors.
Fundraising / donation initiatives will mostly be during the 2023 Powranna TLX Spring store sale on the 7th September 2023, which this year will be known as: "RAW Spring Store Sale"
Stay tuned to learn how the industry is getting behind in empowering the next generation of youth.
Contact the team directly to see how you can be involved throughout September 2023
