Whether you're a student living on noodles and Centrelink, or a parent trying to cover textbooks, rent, groceries and keep the lights on—financial stress doesn’t just hit the bank account, it hits the whole household.

And when we don’t talk about it, it can quietly eat away at our peace, our patience, and our relationships.

As we wrap up the financial year, it’s the perfect time to also check in with your emotional wellbeing. Money stress is real—but so is your ability to take small steps forward.

Farmers face some of the toughest mental health conditions, literally and emotionally. Droughts, floods, financial stress, isolation, succession pressures, and now policies that threaten their future… it’s all a heavy load. Add to that the difficulty of actually accessing support - long waitlists, limited services in remote areas, and stigma, and it’s no wonder so many suffer in silence.

This time of year, it’s easy to get caught up in productivity mode. We start reflecting on what we’ve done—and sometimes, what we haven’t. The pressure builds. The pace quickens. And without even noticing, we push our mental wellbeing to the bottom of the list.

Not every drought is made of dry skies and cracked earth. Some are invisible. The kind that seeps into conversations when farmers feel unheard. The kind that weighs heavily on communities when headlines focus on policies but forget people. The kind that leads to isolation, despair, and heartbreaking statistics that don’t make the news until it’s too late.

The simple act of breathing deeply and consciously can help you reconnect with your body, acknowledge the pain, and release it. This is why breathwork isn’t just a mental practice—it’s deeply physical and emotional too.

Breathwork, meditation, and mindful practices teach us to cultivate freedom within ourselves. It’s about creating a calm, spacious inner world where external challenges no longer have the power to take away your peace.

Mother’s Day, at its heart, began as a day of healing—a way to bring families back together and to honour the sacrifices made in love. That spirit of connection and compassion is something we can still embrace today, especially in a world where so many of us are carrying mixed emotions.

So as you move through this Mother’s Day, give yourself permission to feel whatever comes up.

Mental health in aged care isn’t a luxury or a side note—it’s essential.

Because emotional wellbeing isn’t just for the young.

Because healing doesn’t have an age limit.

Today, in the half‑light of dawn, Australia and New Zealand pause as the Last Post drifts over memorial lawns. ANZAC Day is a sacred moment of national pride and solemn respect—yet for many current and former service‑members it also stirs a storm of memories, grief, and invisible wounds.

Let’s be real—life is messy. And sometimes, so is the kitchen bench, the linen cupboard, the overflowing inbox, and that ‘I’ll-deal-with-it-later’ drawer. (You know the one.)

But what if the clutter around you is more than just stuff? What if it’s silently chipping away at your energy, focus, and emotional wellbeing?

You are allowed to miss the life you had. The people you’ve lost. The dreams that didn’t come true. The parts of yourself that had to be left behind.

Grief is love in a different form. And sometimes, honouring it means simply giving yourself permission to feel. To cry. To remember. To rest.

And most importantly, to heal—gently, and in your own time.

Ever met someone who just lights up a conversation with their passion and purpose? That was exactly what happened when I sat down with South Aussie designer, Nikki, from Horrocks Vale Collection. It was one of those chats that leaves you inspired and a little more hopeful about the future of fashion.

Without kids in school or regular participation in local sports, it can be easy to lose touch with what’s happening in the community. The Fleurieu App helps bridge that gap, providing a digital space where people can still feel a part of local life.

Small, intentional steps lead to lasting change.

Give yourself permission to choose YOU—because when you do, everything else benefits too.

When we feel in control of our finances, we experience a sense of security, confidence, and freedom. On the other hand, financial stress can lead to anxiety, overwhelm, and even impact our physical health.

Life moves fast. Between work, family, and the never-ending to-do lists, it’s easy to put yourself last. If we are honest—your wellbeing isn’t a luxury. It’s the foundation for everything else.

It’s easy to think of exercise as something we should do—like a chore or a box to tick off. But what if we reframed it? What if we looked at movement as a form of self-care, a way to build resilience, and a tool to support our mental wellbeing?

This Valentine’s Day, let’s go beyond the chocolates and flowers—let’s take care of our mental health and emotional wellbeing, too. ❤️

For me, love is having Mick by my side through it all. It’s knowing that no matter how busy life gets, how much the world throws our way, we’re in this together. And in the end, it’s not the grand gestures that hold us together—it’s the quiet, everyday ways we show up for each other. ❤️