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Two successful programmes training farmers, growers and other rural people to manage pressure and adapt to change have received renewed funding from the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI).
The Agri-Women’s Development Trust will receive $339,000 to expand its ‘Know Your Mindset. Do What Matters’ and ‘Our Resilient Farming Business’ programmes.
Piloted across 2020 and 2021, the programmes have already supported more than 300 rural women and men to better manage stress, prioritise wellbeing and cultivate financial resilience in the face of change.
“Disruptions and supply chain issues caused by the Covid-19 pandemic are one of the many challenges facing farmers, growers and whenua Māori owners,” MPI’s acting director of rural communities and farming support, Andrew Spelman, says.
“This training has helped boost people’s ability and confidence to cope, along with strengthening the resilience of their businesses to get through hard times.”
The two programmes are designed specifically for people living and working in rural communities. The funding boost will enable them to be run again over the next year, starting next month.
“The self-awareness and action plans people developed on the programmes improved their wellbeing and connection to others, supported business decisions and communication, and drove positive changes in their lives and businesses,” Agri-Women general manager Lisa Sims says.
“MPI’s support will enable our team to work directly with more than 700 people, and our experience has shown that the ripple effect of the new skills and confidence they gain extends far more widely into rural families, businesses and communities.”
The next round of ‘Know Your Mindset. Do What Matters’ programmes start on June 7 and 9. Attendees will learn how to manage multiple pressures calmly and clearly, prioritise the wellbeing of themselves, families, farms and communities, and build realistic action plans – big or small.
The two-part online training features a mix of practical psychology lessons, personal stories and facilitated breakout spaces.
Past programme participants reported a range of practical changes in their lives. These included more honest farm succession conversations, better family relationships, and more time for personal wellbeing or improvements to team culture. Ninety-six per cent of participants expected to use the tools and training learned during the programme in their personal life, family, business or community.
Know your Mindset. Do what matters
This is a short, practical training programme designed specifically for farming and growing families, teams, advisors and others across rural communities – it’s a chance to press pause, cut through the noise, and focus on what matters most. The two-part online programme for men and women was initially developed with support from Beef + Lamb New Zealand and continues in partnership with Farmstrong. The first two programmes will run as follows:
Programme #1 (online)
Session #1 Tuesday 7 June 7pm – 8:30pm
Session #2 Tuesday 14 June 7pm – 9pm
Programme #2 (online)
Session #1 Thursday 9 June 7pm – 8:30pm
Session #2 Thursday 16 June 7pm – 9pm
Info: www.awdt.org.nz/programmes/know-your-mindset-do-what-matters/
Our Resilient Farming Business
This programme supports farming and growing New Zealanders to cultivate the financial and personal resilience needed to thrive in the face of accelerating change. Working to eight outcomes – including embracing a change mindset, measuring financial resilience and building a network of tools and support – participants leave the programme with an action plan to reduce risk, build agility and confidently engage with uncertainty and change. The ‘Our Resilient Farming Business’ courses are planned to be held in June, dates to be confirmed.
Info: www.awdt.org.nz/programmes/our-resilient-farming-business/
