Why help is needed
Statistics show that
- The number of farms has decreased by 25 per cent in 25 years leading to increased isolation for those still on the land.
- Compared with major cities, the life expectancy in regional areas is one to two years lower and in remote areas is up to seven years lower.
- Those in rural areas have less access to generalist and specialist services while having higher rates of injury, mortality, mental illness and coronary heart disease.
- In Australia, suicide rates have consistently been found to be higher in rural than in metropolitan areas. High environmental stress and social isolation have been identified as risk factors for suicide — such as in times of drought.
- Rural Australians also suffer educational disadvantage with the number of students completing high school significantly lower in rural Australia and, despite the fact that one-third of high school students are in rural areas, only 17 per cent of tertiary students are from a rural area.
We’re asking for your help to provide resources that will sustain rural families long enough to allow them to make wise decisions about their future.
We are also asking for your help to support existing communities so that they might explore new strategies to build resilience, prosperity and sustainability.
stories
chaplains bring hope
Our Rural Chaplains work with communities who have been demoralised by years of drought and decline. [more]
Chaplains' Adventures
Visit their blog and see what the two Uniting Church rural chaplains have been up to lately. [more]