Beneficiaries 2024
In 2024, we maintain our focus on creating long-term benefits for rural and regional Australia – supporting education, mental health and wellbeing.
We will be raising funds for key beneficiaries Schools Plus, Rural Aid, Royal Flying Doctor Service and Outback Futures, along with other, smaller recipients.
Schools Plus
Schools Plus exists to help close the education gap caused by disadvantage.
They work with teachers and schools in disadvantaged areas to empower them with funding, coaching and resources to implement initiatives that will help their students succeed.
Up to half of all students in very remote areas are behind in key educational milestones for their age.
​
Funding from Big Dry Friday 2024 will go towards school projects across the country, ideally from every state and territory.
Rural Aid
Rural Aid is Australia’s most trusted rural charity. It provides critical support to farmers affected by natural disaster through wellbeing, fodder, water tanks and monetary assistance.
Rural Aid’s community programs also help create more sustainable communities by building stronger futures for all Australian farmers.
​
They offer free, confidential counselling to Rural Aid registered farmers and their family.
​
Rural Aid counsellors catch up with their farmers where they’re most comfortable; whether it’s on farm, in town, or over the phone. They can support with practical strategies to help farmers refocus and get back on track.
Outback Futures
Outback Futures is a not-for-profit organisation committed to long-term, intergenerational change in mental health and wellbeing outcomes for our outback children, families and communities.
Their mission is to nurture and empower the outback by renewing hope, building resilience and strengthening community.
​
Funding from BDF 2023 enabled Outback Futures to increase clinical capacity in the Cloncurry region of Queensland and complete dozens of individual sessions, group workshops and community engagement activities.
This year, their focus is to develop programs for men’s health, intergenerational engagement, and developing a Mental Health Week full of activities and service providers to showcase their services available to the community.
Additionally, Outback Futures is looking at how to roll out a suicide prevention program in the community, as Cloncurry has a history of suicides. They feel it is imperative to engage in this delicate area, to increase the options for education and understanding of the support services that are provided.
Royal Flying Doctor Service
The RFDS is a national, charitable, health organisation delivering primary healthcare and 24-hour emergency services for those that live in rural and remote Australia.
​
Long known as one of the largest aeromedical organisations in the world, the RFDS delivers health care where mainstream health services are not available, using the latest in aviation, medical and communications technology and a broad-reaching ground-service fleet.
Other Beneficiaries
The full list of smaller beneficiaries for Big Dry Friday 2024 will be finalised once the total amount of funds raised is known. We welcome your suggestions for a rural or regional charity that needs our help.