The RFDS in NSW/ACT
Guiding Rural Outback Wellbeing
The Guiding Rural Outback Wellbeing (GROW) program is our innovative, place-based health initiative that helps strengthen community resilience and wellbeing in New South Wales’s rural and remote communities. Grounded in trauma-informed and relational practice, the program uses hands-on, experiential learning to build safety, belonging, responsibility and hope, particularly for young people who may be disengaged or at risk.
Our goal is to help communities better respond to mental health, alcohol and other drug challenges, starting from those essential younger years. We create environments where students feel respected, develop agency, and re-engage with school and their future.
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’s Aquaponics Program is a signature initiative that uses low-water plant and fish growing systems as a powerful engagement tool. These living classrooms deliver evidence-based mental health, alcohol and other drug education in a practical, non-stigmatising way
Through caring for living systems, students develop skills and mindsets that support their wellbeing. The program helps empower communities from the roots up by:
- Creating calm, safe spaces where young people feel valued and can recentre
- Building responsibility, teamwork and self-confidence through hands-on learning
- Promoting healthy dietary choices and sustainable food production
- Strengthening connection to Country and community, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
- Evidence-based wellbeing content, including the Save-a-Mate (SAM) harm reduction program and Positive Lifestyle Program (PLP), is woven through the practical sessions
- Most importantly, fostering early intervention, mental health literacy, and help-seeking behaviour
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 Trangie Central School's students.
GROW Community Days
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 break down these barriers with face-to-face Community Days attended by valuable health, wellbeing and community services.
These events create accessible, welcoming spaces where residents can connect with support providers, participate in health promotion activities, and engage in early intervention; helping to build stronger local networks and encourage help-seeking behaviours. In doing so, isolated communities can access a whole network of critical resources with a single-entry point: a GROW Community Day.
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.
The partners powering GROW
We'd like to express our deep gratitude to the incredible experts and providers contributing incredible support to GROW:
- AquaLife Industries: Delivering tailored, sustainable food security solutions to the regions that need them most. Food security is king.
- Digability: Ongoing consultation and research of GROW Aquaponics Program, led by therapeutic horticulture expert, Dr Kate Neale (B Bus / LLB. PhD).
- 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.
- 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.
Be part of GROW's future
We believe that when like-minded organisations come together, we can create an impact far greater than the sum of our parts. We’ve built a strong, comprehensive network of partners reaching rural and remote NSW.
But there’s always room to grow.
If your organisation could help us break down barriers to essential services, we want to hear from you. Contact grow@rfdsse.org.au today.
