Rural Health Innovation Fund

12/11/2025

RHIF is proud to celebrate the launch of West Coast Youth & Community Support’s (WCYCS) Grief & Loss Support Groups, a powerful step toward healing and connection.

Already, two heartfelt evening sessions in Port Lincoln have brought people together, including from Cummins and Tumby Bay to share, listen, and support one another. One participant shared, “It helped to hear others talk about their loss.”

Evening groups continue fortnightly through November, and the impact is already inspiring!

Stay tuned here for updates and get involved-Mentally Fit EP — West Coast Youth & Community Support

23/10/2025

RHIF is excited to celebrate the launch of 3rd Place, Riverland Youth Theatre - RYT's RHIF Round 3 funded initiative, kicking off today! This vibrant new program creates a welcoming and creative space for young people aged 13 to 18 to connect, express themselves, and thrive. Let’s share the news!

3RD PLACE | LOXTON

Thursdays from October 23 | 3pm - 5pm| Loxton Business Hub | For ages 13 - 18

We are so excited to be adding a third 3rd Place to our programming! A 3rd Place is a place that isn’t home or school -- it’s another place to hang out! Our 3rd Place unplanned hangout time, share memes, music, make friends, do some drawing or crafts.

No pick-ups or drop-offs available for this program

Register: https://www.trybooking.com/DGDOI

This initiative has been made possible by grant funding from the Rural Health Innovation Fund, supported by Country SA PHN

02/10/2025

RHIF is proud to introduce our last but not least round three initiative - WoTL’s: The Change Compass

Change is constant - navigating it with confidence is a skill worth building.

The Change Compass will support 20 rural women in the SA Mallee through life, work, and business transitions. With online sessions, in-person workshops, neuroscience-based tools, and peer support, participants will gain practical strategies to manage stress, lead through change, and support others.

“It’s about empowering rural women to not only manage change, but to help others do the same,” says WoTL Executive Director, Kim Blenkiron.

This community-driven initiative will be refined through participant feedback and delivered to other regions across country South Australia.

25/09/2025

Introducing a New Grief Support Initiative on the West Coast

Congratulations WWest Coast Youth & Community Support(WCYCS) as a new RHIF Grant Round 3 Recipient!

In rural communities, grief is often felt collectively, but access to support can be limited.

WCYCS is responding to this need by creating safe, local spaces where people can come together to process loss, build resilience, and foster long-term community care.

What makes this initiative truly special is that it’s led by people who are deeply embedded in their community, walking alongside others with compassion, lived experience, and trust.

We’re excited to see the healing and connection this work will bring!

18/09/2025

Exciting things are happening in the Riverland!

Proudly introducing Riverland Youth Theatre - RYT initiative as a successful RHIF Round 3 Recipient!

RYT initiative - '3rd Place' - is creating vital spaces for young people to connect, express, and lead. RYT explains their initiative is all about building '3rd Places' - safe, creative environments beyond school and home where youth can thrive.

RHIF is proud to support an initiative that is not only youth-led, but also designed to foster youth leadership, community-building, and wellbeing.

With a strong support network and a passion for expanding access across the region and online, this initiative is a powerful example of grassroots innovation in action.

Stay tuned as more young voices shape their communities through creativity and connection!

16/09/2025

Congratulations to West Coast Youth & Community Support on launching your first support group funded by RHIF as a round three grant recipient.

We look forward to supporting this important journey for the Eyre Peninsula community.

Grief and Loss Support Groups 💜 A Space for Healing & Hope 🩵

We are so glad to finally offer groups to support people experiencing grief and loss.

With the guidance and support of local experienced Grief Counsellor, Anne, from Positive Future Self; the peer support and upskilling of our staff from Griefline; and funding from the Rural Health Innovation Fund Country SA PHN, these groups will begin next month.

Two options are available for which time suits you. The first group will begin Wednesday 8th October, 9:30am-11am. The other group will begin Thursday 9th October, 6pm-7:30pm. The group will meet fortnightly for a total of 6 sessions. The final sessions will be on the Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th December.

Please register with Lain by Wednesday 1st October.

If this “Spring” group does not suit you, the next groups will begin on Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th January, 2026. You can register your interest for one of these groups if you wish to.

11/09/2025

R U OK? Day - A Conversation Could Change a Life
The Rural Health Innovation Fund believes in the strength of community and the power of conversation. Let's continue to build a culture where people feel safe to speak up and supported to seek help.
You don't need to be an expert - just a good mate.

04/09/2025

Introducing Rural Health Innovation Fund Round 3 Grant recipient, Gather My Crew 💐

Their ‘Coordinated Care at Home’ initiative, which will be based on the Yorke Peninsula, will focus on providing support to informal carers in the region ❤️

“Our initiative makes it simple for families, friends, and neighbours to provide coordinated, meaningful support that eases pressure on both families and local health systems,” said Gather My Crew CEO Dr Susan Palmer.

The RHIF is looking forward to seeing this initiative come to country SA.



Image: Supplied

01/09/2025

It’s Women’s Health Week!

This week, we’re celebrating Women’s Health Week (1–5 Sept), a national initiative by Jean Hailes for Women's Health: https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/womens-health-week

At the Rural Health Innovation Fund (RHIF), we know that access to quality healthcare in rural communities is vital. That includes making space for women to prioritise their wellbeing. Whether it’s regular check-ups, support, or chronic pain management, this week is a powerful reminder to put your health first.

Let’s work together to ensure every woman in our rural communities feels seen, supported, and heard!



Image credit: © 2025 Jean Hailes Foundation

01/09/2025

New grant success from the Rural Health Innovation Fund (RHIF)

We are pleased to advise the Shed has been successful in obtaining a grant from the 2025/26 RHIF innovation fund to hold Woodwork classes for older Whyalla residents.

We've titled the project: "Seasoned with Sawdust" and it is based on the premise that while older adults are among the most vulnerable to social isolation, physical decline, and mental health challenges, access to creative, skill-based programs can improve quality of life and reduce health risks associated with inactivity and loneliness. The chippies among us believe that woodworking offers an ideal passtime being tactile, practical, creative and inherently satisfying.

The experience with Shed members is that people unfamiliar with the craft find a sense of achievement, improved confidence and self-esteem as they develop skills with basic tools and learn and apply basic woodwork techniques.

We hope that these sessions - to be advertised soon - will stimulate cognitive function through hands-on problem-solving and planning, while also improving fine motor skills, coordination, and gentle physical activity, benefits that are particularly valuable in managing age-related conditions such as arthritis and reduced mobility.

See here for more information about the grant .. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AnEZbDY59/

28/08/2025

Introducing Whyalla Men's Shed – where skills, stories and connection come together!

As one of our five Rural Health Innovation Fund Round 3 Grant Recipients, Whyalla Men’s Shed’s ‘Seasoned with Sawdust’ initiative, comprising basic woodworking classes, is designed for older adults in the local community - because staying active, connected, and creative shouldn’t stop with age. This initiative is tailored toward the aim of supporting physical health, mental wellbeing, and lifelong learning.

Whyalla Men’s Shed Secretary Gary Misan said he was looking forward to seeing “the sense of achievement, improved confidence, and self-esteem of participants as they develop skills with basic tools and learn and apply basic woodwork techniques to construct one-off projects”.

Stay tuned on our RHIF page for more updates!

https://www.countrysaphn.com.au/rural-health-innovation-fund/



Image: Supplied