Doing what matters for rural wellbeing

Module Overview

An online workshop supporting people in the rural community to navigate uncertainty and change is having a positive impact on its participants.

Now in its third year, the Agri-Women’s Development Trust’s Know Your Mindset. Do What Matters workshop helps people respond to pressure and supports wellbeing with group connection, practical tools and a personalised action plan. The most recent workshop was held in July this year.

The workshop is supported by Farmstrong, Beef + Lamb New Zealand and the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Agri-Women’s Development Trust general manager Lisa Sims says there was a clear need across the rural sector.

“The workshop is about building awareness of how we tick as human beings, learning new techniques and then putting them into practice to do things differently in areas of our lives that matter the most. It takes evidence-based positive psychology and brings it to life in the context of rural people,” she says.

“The feedback has been amazing, and we are seeing tangible, positive impacts on individuals, families and businesses. People are picking up and running with what they’ve learnt in lots of different ways, from everyday family life, personal wellbeing, and in succession planning and supporting their own teams.”

Small, but meaningful change

The workshop consists of two online sessions held a week apart. The first session covers the science of stress in uncertain times and how to respond calmly, while the second session focuses on using personal values to build a realistic action plan.

“We’re giving people the skills and tools to put small, but meaningful and effective plans in place to create new habits to respond positively to uncertain situations that can create pressure.”

She says the participants are a diverse mix of people from around the country.

“We’re working with farmers, growers, rural professionals and people who live in the rural community doing other types of work. We have men and women, couples and farming teams of all ages.”

Workshop is interactive

The facilitated workshop is interactive, providing the opportunity to hear other people’s perspectives, stories and ideas.

“It creates rich discussions and a lot of learning opportunities within the group and people are really interested in creating meaningful change in their lives,” she says.

“Participants value the connection with our team and each other and the sharing of experiences and insight, and when they do this, they also realise they are not alone.”

Lisa says Farmstrong’s support and advice has been invaluable.

“It’s been awesome to have Farmstrong alongside us with their support. We have a shared goal of empowering people in our sector to be able to create positive change within themselves and in their lives.”

You can read about the positive impact the Know Your Mindset. Do What Matters workshop has had on three different people in the rural sector – dairy farmer Matt Goodwin, MPI’s Catie Avery and dairy farmer Brooke Flett.

 If you’d like to register your interest for the next Know Your Mindset. Do What Matters online workshop, please click here.