Rural Aid is one of Australia’s most trusted rural charities, providing critical support to farmers affected by natural disaster by providing fodder, water and financial assistance.
It also offers a professional counselling service to help affected farmers and their families to focus and recover.
Elanco has provided financial support of over $200K via direct donation, donation matching, sales-based donations and volunteering to Rural Aid since 2022.
During 2023, Elanco provided funds to support Rural Aid’s well-known ‘Buy A Bale’ campaign.
This year, Elanco will sponsor the organisation’s ‘Mates for Mates Day’ and the ‘Rural Aid Long Lunch’ initiatives.
Elanco Farm Animal Business Unit Head, Jamie Dowsley, says the partnership demonstrates Elanco’s commitment to rural and regional communities.
“Droughts, floods and bushfires pose a permanent challenge to farmers and the wider community,” he says.
“The past 12 months has been particularly difficult, with requests to Rural Aid becoming increasingly frequent and urgent.
“The number of counselling sessions conducted by Rural Aid has almost doubled, with floods, bushfires, dry conditions, low water availability, limited fodder supplies, increased interest rates and falling commodity prices featuring prominently in these conversations.
“Rural Aid counsellors are professionally trained to support their clients through all kinds of challenges and understand the unique needs of rural people.
“Elanco is proud to do our part in helping farmers to cope with these issues, most of which are beyond their control.
“Choosing to use quality animal health solutions from Elanco means livestock producers are contributing to a bigger picture.”
ANZ Country Manager, Hendrik Van der Walt, says Rural Aid aligns with Elanco’s ‘Healthy Purpose’ initiative.
“Healthy Purpose is a framework of defined commitments that Elanco is committed to delivering.
“These commitments are focused around advancing the well-being of animals, people and the planet.
“Helping animals to live healthy, quality lives benefits people’s health by providing companionship and enabling the sustainable production of food.
“Healthy Purpose isn’t just words – and it’s real actions.
“For example, every Elanco employee is allowed to commit three days a year volunteering for their chosen charity or community cause.”
