The RFDS in NSW/ACT
Guiding Rural Outback Wellbeing
The Guiding Rural Outback Wellbeing (GROW) program is our unusual, yet highly effective, health initiative that helps strengthen community resilience and wellbeing in New South Wales’s rural and remote communities.
What is GROW?
Led by the Royal Flying Doctor Service South Eastern Section, GROW supports and upskills communities to better respond to mental health, alcohol, and other drug challenges through a range of proactive and locally tailored programs.
How do you build connected communities?
You start by listening to what those communities truly need.
Deeply localised, supportive, and evidence-based, RFDS South Eastern’s GROW is strengthening rural and remote NSW communities.
GROW Program Matthew March explains exactly how we do that.
Aquaponics Program
GROW Aquaponics Program is our innovative health initiative. We use low-water usage plant and fish growing setups, called aquaponics, to deliver evidence-based mental health, alcohol and other drug education to communities and high schools.
GROW’s Aquaponics program helps empower communities from the roots up by:
- Promoting healthy dietary and lifestyle choices
- Supporting students’ learning
- Creating avenues for enterprise
- Most importantly, strengthening community resilience through early intervention, education and mental health support
It’s not what you grow. It’s how you grow it.
That’s at the heart of RFDS South Eastern’s GROW program, a schools and community-focused wellbeing initiative building resilience, strength, and education.
In this video, find out about its life-changing impact for students.
We’re proud to partner with experts and providers to deliver this innovative initiative:
- Digability: Ongoing consultation and research of GROW Aquaponics Program, led by therapeutic horticulture expert, Dr Kate Neale (B Bus / LLB. PhD)
- OzFish Unlimited: Australian fishing conservation charity that ensures our aquaponics setups are teeming with fish – an essential component creating a nutrient-rich ecosystem for our plants
- Ignition Online: A creative learning agency helping global brands train people better through digital content and real-world experiences. This B-Corp is supporting the RFDS pro bono by developing a simple digital tool to help monitor water quality in their aquaponics systems.
GROW Community Days
GROW Community Days break down barriers to critical resources, knowledge, and support for rural and remote communities – all packaged into a free, family fun day.
When you live in an isolated community with little to no internet or mobile connection, a simple referral for essential healthcare, wellbeing, and social support can be out of reach.GROW Community Days help overcome this by providing access to vital referral pathways, resources and advice.
We organise in-person attendance from a wide range of trusted service providers. In doing so, we unite a whole network of critical resources with a single-entry point: a GROW Community Day.
Every day is jam-packed with free entertainment for the entire family. While attendees get access to essential support, the fun activities provide moments of invaluable social connection, deepening relationships across the community, and help increase attendance.
Don’t miss out on a GROW Day near you
If you live in a rural or remote community in New South Wales, sign up to our monthly newsletter, Community Conversations, where we announce upcoming GROW Days.
You’ll also get access to our primary health and dental clinic dates, stories, and relevant updates, sent straight to your inbox.
Together, GROW’s aquaponics program and community days empower communities to lead healthier lives by promoting early education, prevention, and local solutions to complex wellbeing challenges.
GROW is changing lives. One at a time. Take Chase, for instance. Watch below.
