Rural Health Groups Join Forces

Rural health initiatives Fat Farmers and Active Farmers have joined forces, coming together for 2026 and beyond, combining their resources, networks and experience with a shared goal to reach more towns, support people and continue making a difference in the lives of people across regional Australia. IMAGE: Facebook (Fat Farmers).

Rural communities across Australia are set to benefit from a strengthened network of health and wellbeing programs, with Active Farmers and the Fat Farmers Rural Health Initiative joining forces to expand their reach and impact.

The integration, which officially took effect on January 1, marks a significant step forward for both not-for-profit organisations, bringing together years of shared work focused on improving physical and mental health outcomes in regional areas.

Speaking on Country Viewpoint on FlowFM, Fat Farmers Rural Health Initiative CEO Richard Sheppy said discussions around joining forces had been underway for several years, driven by a shared mission and the practical challenges of operating in the not-for-profit sector.

“We’ve been talking with Active Farmers, particularly with Ginny and the team, for the last two or three years,” Mr Sheppy said. “We were both working in the same space and competing for similar funding, so it made sense to look at how we could integrate and strengthen what we do.”

Those conversations accelerated in mid-September last year, with the organisations moving quickly toward full integration. While the merger was announced in November, the new structure became official at the start of 2026.

Importantly, Mr Sheppy said the changes would be largely invisible at a grassroots level.

“From a ground-level perspective, nothing really changes,” he said. “Groups that were Active Farmers will continue to operate under their model, and the same goes for Fat Farmers. It’s business as usual for participants.”

The biggest shifts, he said, have occurred behind the scenes, with administration and operations streamlined to support a broader reach. The integration has transformed what was once a predominantly South Australian and Victorian footprint into a truly national network, with more than 80 groups now operating across the country.

Both organisations have spent the past decade bringing people together in rural communities through regular group-based physical activity, often followed by informal social connection such as coffee or a walk.

“It’s not about being fat, a farmer, or even active,” Mr Sheppy said. “It’s about connection. Fitness is central, but the real value is bringing people together and creating social links, especially when it’s becoming harder to get off the farm and connect face-to-face.”

Looking ahead, Mr Sheppy said one of the organisation’s most ambitious projects is the rollout of its new Mobile Health Hub - a purpose-built semi-trailer designed to deliver health messaging and screenings at rural events.

In December, the group launched its new Mobile Health Hub - a purpose-built semi-trailer designed to deliver health messaging and screenings at rural events - which it hopes to replicate across multiple states over the next few years. IMAGE: Facebook.

After a successful soft launch at the Jamestown Pageant in December, where around 50 people accessed health checks, the hub is set to appear at major events including Wimmera Field Days, Keith Show and Lucindale Field Days in 2026.

Mr Sheppy said the long-term vision is to replicate the mobile health hub across multiple states over the next two to three years.

Communities interested in joining an existing group or starting a new one can find more information via the Fat Farmers website or social media channels, with the organisation actively seeking new local champions.