Stephanie Trethewey uses technology to foster connection for rural mums

Rural mothers in Australia face unique social, emotional, and physical challenges, but television journalist turned women’s advocate Stephanie Trethewey is using digital connectivity to address them.

After seasoned television journalist Stephanie Trethewey swapped the city for the country and launched head first into farm life with her husband and first baby, she learnt the meaning of the proverb “It takes a village to raise a child”.

Experiencing first-hand the crippling and debilitating isolation while adapting to life on a cattle farm near Deloraine in Tasmania’s Central North, she set up her national charity, Motherland, to connect other mothers raising children on the land through Australia’s first personalised online rural mothers’ group.

Stephanie Trethewey, author of Motherland, with her daughter Evie. Picture: Ness Vanderburgh

Now, five years on, Mrs Tretheway is again using technology to improve the lives of rural and regional mothers across the country.

“Isolation doesn’t discriminate; you can be lonely in the city, but statistically, being in a rural area, you are more likely to suffer some sort of isolation,” Mrs Tretheway said.

“Living large distances away from their nearest town and families can often make mothers quite isolated from one another, but there are also additional problems when there is a lack of support services nearby.”

Mrs Tretheway said living in rural and remote Australia can sometimes mean that health services may be harder to access than in the city.

The lack of access to health services significantly contributes to the poorer health outcomes of rural people, including higher death rates, lower life expectancy, and a greater burden of disease.

Stephanie Trethewey is on a mission to reduce isolation and improve mental health outcomes for rural mothers Australia-wide with her charity Motherland. Pictured at her farmhouse with her dog Lottie. Picture: Stephanie Dalton

Mrs Tretheway is launching Motherland Connect, Australia’s first digital health directory to empower rural mothers and increase personal awareness of health and wellbeing.

“It will be a platform that connects rural mums to the services they need to improve their health. So, for example, a rural mum living in Tassie, maybe she’s at Smithton, or she’s down in the Huon Valley and trying to access a psychologist,” she said.

“Maybe that’s tricky locally, so she’ll be able to search under mental health support on the platform and be directed to the appropriate telehealth services.

“Or she might be looking for relationship counselling. Or to improve her physical health, like the gym. When you are searching on the internet for health services, it is important to use reputable sources, and that’s what this will be.”

Stephanie Trethewey, author of Motherland. Picture: Pip Williams

Mrs Tretheway said while technology has revolutionised the way we communicate, it also presents challenges.

“Digital connectivity can do so much good, but it can also do a lot of harm,” she said.

“Fortunately, Motherland is very lucky – we sit in that positive space, and it’s really empowering to think it’s changing lives.

“I spoke at an event last year, and I had an 80-year-old mum come up to me and said, ‘I wish you were around when I had kids’. And that means something.

“We’re living in a really interesting age with innovation and technology. Some of the most innovative solutions to some of the country’s biggest problems, particularly in rural Australia. And that’s really exciting.”

Mrs Trethewey’s Motherland project was the winner of the 2023 Innovate with nbn grants program, Women in Regional Business category.

nbn Chief Development Officer – Regional and Remote, Gavin Williams said Motherland was a shining example of the wide-reaching benefits of the nbn.

.“Broadband connectivity is more than just an internet connection; it is the backbone of economic growth, educational advancement, and healthcare access for regional Australians,” Mr Williams said.

“Every year, the Innovate with nbn Grants Program unearths new ideas that regional Australian innovators are already putting into practice to help solve problems not only for their local communities but wider Australia.”

Originally published as Stephanie Trethewey uses technology to foster connection for rural mums