One night a week farmers trade the paddock for the beach to improve mental health and well-being

One night each week over Summer, farmers trade the paddock for the beach in a ground-breaking learn to Surf programme – Surfing for Farmers.   The programme aims to support farmers' mental health and well-being and reduce the social isolation that sometimes accompanies farming. 

Part of a national charity, Surfing for Farmers, is a local programme run on weeknights during the warmer months at Gore Bay, Hickory Bay and Sumner Beach for rural women and men who often work in what can be lonely and isolated jobs. 

Farmers across the region are invited to come together, learn to surf, relax and catch up over a barbeque.

Surfing for Farmers Assistant Coordinator, Sam Wilson, says the programme supports farmer's mental health by helping them get off the farm, learn a new skill, meet new people, and have a change of scenery.

"All the farmers need to do is turn up each week, and they get free lessons, free surfboard and wetsuit hire and food afterwards," says Sam.

"Getting off the farm, some salt water and surfing is great for your mental health – you feel refreshed afterwards."

Rātā Foundation Chief Executive, Leighton Evans, says the programme is a perfect example of the Foundation's funding priority to provide opportunities for people to feel connected and help reduce isolation.

"Rural workers can be hard to reach, especially for mental health support when times are tough," says Leighton.   

"Farmers can become isolated and lonely on the farm, and this service provides some respite to their work schedules."

"We were impressed not only by the feedback from those attending the programme that they had all made positive changes in their mental well-being and social connections."

Running across 13 weeks a year, farmers have said the programme helps them "get through the week" and that they really look forward to it.

Sam says there are always smiles on people's faces as they come out of the surf.

Nick, a local farmer and surfer-in-training, says mental health isn't spoken about enough on-farm, and there is still the image of the "tough sort of bloke" who lives off the land. 

"A mate got me into it last year, and I absolutely love it," says Nick. "It's great to get out on the water, get better every week, then have a yarn and a feed afterwards.

"Programmes like this are great for getting farmers off the land and learning that there is more to life than crutching sheep and drenching lambs."

Surfing for Farmers is an outstanding example of how investing in initiatives that bring people together to learn new skills and make connections can have real mental health benefits for the local community.