The Rural Psychologist
In this podcast, long-time rural-based psychologist, Chantal Corish discovers what rural Aussies have that makes us happier than the rest, and how we manage to keep our spirits up when the chips are down.
Living and working in rural, regional and remote Australia can have all sorts of impacts on people's mental health and well-being, but lots of us have developed great ways to manage our mental health even when things get really tough.
Listen here to The Rural Psychologist podcast as Chantal chats with every day rural Aussies and mental health professionals to discover the best tools and techniques for living a productive and satisfying life; and as she draws on nearly two decades of psychology experience to offer advice for good mental health and well-being for those living and working in 'the bush'.
www.theruralpsychologist.com.au
Instagram handle @theruralpsychologist
Disclaimer
The information provided on this podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment.
ALWAYS consider seeking the advice of your physician, therapist or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or mental health concern.
The host and guests featured on this podcast are not all licensed medical professionals and the content they share is based on their personal experience, research and opinions. Their insights and suggestions are not meant to replace individual professional advice that you yourself should seek. We encourage you to consult with a qualified professional before any significant changes to your lifestyle or wellbeing practices.
The Rural Psychologist
Farmer & CEO Zara Lowien: How does government policy making and decisions affect community wellbeing
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My big questions today is:
What happens to the mental health and wellbeing of whole rural communities when governments make decisions that negatively impact them?
High-quality government support acts as a buffer by fostering institutional trust and interpersonal trust, which in turn reduces mental distress.
Conversely, when citizens perceive government interventions as inadequate in managing economic or social uncertainty, their trust plummets, leading to a marked deterioration in mental health.
When governments and powerful institutions fail to protect people, deny reality, or cover up wrongdoing to protect their own reputations, it results in "institutional betrayal".
When these patterns continue over time, the effects compound.
We start to see:
1. Declining trust
People lose confidence in institutions, which affects everything from healthcare to elections –
2. Social fragmentation
Communities become divided, often along ideological lines.
3. Increased susceptibility to conspiracy thinking
When official narratives are inconsistent, alternative explanations become more appealing.
4. Learned helplessness
People feel that nothing they do will change outcomes, so they disengage.
This doesn’t just affect individuals—it weakens the functioning of society as a whole.
In this podcast, we’re joined by Zara Lowien, Chief Executive Officer of the National Irrigators’ Council—an organisation at the forefront of one of Australia’s most important and often complex conversations: water. About how she sees the extraction of water from rural communities affecting the very fabric of those communities and the mental health and wellbeing.
Zara brings a wealth of experience in public policy, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement, working at the intersection of government decision-making and the real-world needs of rural and regional communities.
In her role as CEO, she helps guide the national voice of irrigators—supporting farmers and industries that quite literally help feed and clothe Australia, and millions more around the world.
Her leadership comes at a time when water policy is under increasing pressure—from climate variability, competing environmental and agricultural priorities, and the ongoing evolution of frameworks like those shaping the Murray–Darling Basin.
Under her leadership, the National Irrigators’ Council continues to play a critical role in shaping national conversations around water reform, climate policy, and the long-term resilience of irrigated agriculture.
We talk not just about policy, but about people—about what’s at stake for rural communities, and how leadership, collaboration, and innovation can help secure a strong future for Australia’s irrigation sector.
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