Safe Space: What is it like to Be a Mum in the Bush, and Feel Completely Alone?

In this SAFE SPACE episode, Jess sits down with Steph Trethewey to explore what it’s really like to be a rural mum, isolated, without support, and raising a newborn in the middle of nowhere. Former TV journalist Steph left her high-profile career behind to raise a family on a remote Tasmanian farm, but what followed was a brutal mental health spiral into postnatal depression. Cut off from her community, career, and sense of identity, she found herself deeply unravelling, an experience shared by many rural mothers across Australia. In this powerful conversation, Steph shares the unseen toll of rural motherhood, including staggering statistics: over 70% of rural mums say isolation is the hardest part of parenting, and half don’t have access to a mother’s group. This is a must-hear episode about resilience, breaking down, and the strength it takes to ask for help. Is there somebody you'd like to share this episode with? Just tap the 3 dots above ⬆︎ and pass it on LINKS: Out of Steph’s darkness came Motherland, a community for bush mums that has became a lifeline for rural women across Australia. Listen to the Motherland Australia Podcast here If you love what we do, why not follow the show, and rate and review on Apple or Spotify CREDITS: Host: Jessica Rowe Guest: Steph Trethewey Executive Producer: Nic McClure Audio Producer: Nat Marshall Digital Content Producer: Zoe Panaretos The Jess Rowe Big Talk Showacknowledges the Gadigal people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we recorded this podcast, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders peoples here today.