06/10/2026
This September, we tackled the rural alcohol + su***de connection harder than we ever have in the past 13 years, because frankly, we've earned that right, and we've worked our tails off relentlessly since 2015 to introduce this softly, respectfully, and in user-friendly increments over time, minus judgment.
These statistics from our insights on one video that we shared tell the story of who is silent out there - and as we know perfectly well: it's rural men in their 40's, 50's and over most at risk, and least likely to engage, reach out, or seek support if they're a bit worried about grog.
As we said in that post, alcohol use or intoxication was recorded as a risk factor in 34.4% of su***de deaths in Remote and Very Remote Australia between 2020 and 2024.
That’s more than one in three. (Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics.)
We also see a great many organisations speaking about the heartbreaking fact that we lose an Australian farmer to su***de around every ten days.
Yet rarely, if ever, do we see those same organisations being honest or courageous enough to talk about the uncomfortable truth that, across rural Australia, alcohol continues to play a significant role in so much preventable harm, loss, accidents and su***de. We understand why. It is bloody hard to talk about this stuff.
And we’re also well aware that booze continues to be heavily linked to many rural fundraisers, community gatherings and even mental health events, often because it’s simply what we’ve always done.
SITC literally exists to HELP you have that conversation and to do things better in a way that supports everybody, not just those who can safely enjoy a b**r or three.
Over more than a decade, we’ve equipped countless communities, organisations and individuals with the ‘how’, and it has never been based on prohibition or judgement. It’s based on raw truth, lived experience, collaboration and practical support.
We want all our mates, whether they drink or don’t, to know that it’s , and we want those who could use a hand with their own drinking to know there’s a safe place to land in our peer group, where they’ll find people who genuinely get it.
Last but not least, if you’re a bush catering mob, pub, club, race committee, sporting club or event organiser, please know you have people in your own backyard screaming out for decent catering options beyond alcohol or sugary soft drinks.
They’re not asking you to stop serving booze... they’re just asking you to give them a genuine and sophisticated option or choice as well. That means inclusion, better business, more customers, more profit and literally a win for everyone.
If you want to help us do what's working - please support us, reach out, or just share stories like Matty's. It is ALL right there for you on a platter at soberinthecountry.org
Thank you to the almost 400 of you who shared this video and our call-to-arms.
We appreciate it tremendously.
