Queensland has won the bid to host a major national conference for rural women, helping mothers on the land to connect, combat isolation and improve mental health outcomes.
Dubbed Australia’s biggest rural mother’s group, Motherland – Australia’s first national charity for rural mums – last week announced Toowoomba will host its biennial two-day conference in early 2026.
The event will see hundreds of rural women from all corners of the country converge on The Garden City to celebrate rural motherhood, hear from an incredible lineup of star-studded speakers and focus on their emotional wellbeing and mental health.
Motherland’s inaugural National Conference was held in Tasmania in 2024 to a sell-out crowd.
The news comes as Motherland bolsters its presence across Queensland, calling on local rural mums to participate in a national survey into rural motherhood to help address gaps, identify pain points and enable impactful solutions, which the charity will take to decision makers across all levels of government.
Motherland Queensland ambassador Melanie McNaughton, who lives and farms at the foot of the Bunya Mountains, said it was exciting to see Queensland selected to host the next conference.
“Joining Motherland Village changed my life and I am so thrilled that more Queensland women can learn about the game-changing work of Motherland through our conference, because every mum needs a village during the good times and the bad,” Mel said.
“We also need Queenslanders to have their say in Motherland’s national survey, to ensure we bring local issues from across the state to light and give Queensland rural mums the support they deserve.”
Motherland founder, CEO and 2024 Australian of the Year for Tasmania Stephanie Trethewey said today’s announcement built on Motherland’s recent expansion into Queensland, following support and funding from the Queensland Government.
“Mums are the beating heart of Queensland’s bush communities, wearing many hats and juggling many balls, so it’s critical they can access the support they need,” Stephanie said.
“Over 90 per cent of farms in Australia are family-owned or operated but, unfortunately, despite being the glue holding rural households together, rural mothers are under-represented when it comes to having their say on a national scale, which is why our survey is so important.“
Motherland’s National Survey will address the gap in reporting of rural mothers to identify their key concerns, uncover mental health trends, unlock insights into their emotional wellbeing and assist Motherland in advocating and providing improved and additional support services for rural mothers and their families.
“Queensland is such a vital part of the Australian agriculture industry, and we are so incredibly excited to increase our footprint across the state, ensuring more rural women are seen and heard through projects including our conference in Toowoomba, our national survey and our continued advocacy,” Stephanie said.
Motherland will release further details on its national conference in the coming months.
Motherland’s national survey on Rural Motherhood is now open to all rural mums nationally – with the charity planning to take the findings all the way to Parliament House in Canberra.
* Queensland mums can learn more about Motherland via motherlandaustralia.com.au
