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Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation
by Richard Stayner and Elaine Barclay
May 2002
RIRDC Publication No 02/042 RIRDC Project No. UNE-58A
Objectives
The objective of the study was to contribute towards improving
the mix and delivery of services and programs to meet the welfare needs
of farm families undergoing stress, by:
Background
Responses to the needs of farm families undergoing adjustment pressure during periodic rural crises and at other times are primarily targeted at treating the financial condition of the farm business. It seems to be assumed that the personal symptoms of adjustment stress are adequately addressed by generic welfare safety nets in the form of payments or services from government or non-government agencies. Recent experiences of rural crises, however, raise questions regarding how well these responses meet those needs. This project reviews the experiences of farm families and service providers during the recent drought, and critically examines the current mix of policies, programs and services which address the needs of farm families undergoing stress, in order to propose improvements which would reduce its personal, community and industry costs.
Research outcomes
The research demonstrated the importance of understanding farmers attitudes and ways of experiencing their adjustment stress. These have crucial effects on farmers' propensity to take various actions to deal with adjustment pressure, and on their relationships with the range of support services and agencies available.
While farm families experiencing adjustment pressure may express their immediate needs as a need for income support, and while such support may temporarily alleviate the symptoms of stress, there are usually more deep-seated causes that need further attention. Addressing these causes often requires more general counselling and advice. Farmers themselves must also come to understand the ore deep-seated sources of their stress. m Service providers and agencies need to have a keen understanding of the experience of farmers onsidering or undergoing transition from the industry, so that services are adequate and effective. c
The research has summarised the wide range of support services available to farmers undergoing adjustment pressure. While these appear comprehensive, farmers' knowledge and understanding of them is often lacking. The research has identified a number of factors that inhibit farmers' use of these services.
Implications
In the light of our findings, the current mix of government services available to farmers experiencing adjustment pressure seems better now than in the past. Our research has identified some apparent gaps in these services, however, especially in non-financial counselling services, and in the range of upports that appear relevant to farm families in transition from the land.
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