Welcome to Sober in the Country, where we help our rural mates say “no thanks” or “not today” to booze.
We’re doing what they said could never be done…
… we’re saving lives by changing the narrative around booze in the bush.
We have a simple message and a bold vision: a future where every single one of our rural and remote mates – from farmers to FIFO workers – know it’s always okay to say ‘no thanks’ or ‘not today’ to booze.

We're a national charity creating radical social change and saving the lives of rural and remote Australians affected by alcohol harm through our advocacy, straight talk, lived experience, partnerships with leading Alcohol and Drug (AOD) organisations, and our online peer-support group, the Bush Tribe.

WE’RE SO GLAD YOU’RE HERE.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO NEXT?

Click on the arrow of the quick links you’re interested in.
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We know an honest conversation can change or save a life, so we’ve provided a way you can hear the stories of people from the bush just like you.

Watch videos of our rural mates sharing their powerful, relatable stories of hope after choosing a life with less or no booze. Here you’ll also find videos of our founder and CEO, Shanna Whan, who started it all by sharing her story – an unfiltered, inspiring tale of both struggles and success – that’s resonated with people all around Australia.
WATCH OUR STORIES NOW
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Sober in the Country is a much-needed mental health platform – a safe place to be yourself.
Whether you are curious about getting sober or already rocking your sobriety with many years onboard and being a role model to others, it's packed with useful links and information that is impossible to find all in the one place elsewhere. It's comforting to know that we are not alone and can express our struggles here without judgement. I love Sober in the Country and the Bush Tribe and am very proud to be a member of this like-minded tribe.
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Anonymous Bush Tribe member
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The Sober in the Country group is a safe haven for me. I feel supported in my highs and lows, held and protected.
As a young woman trying to grapple with the process of ridding alcohol out of my life completely, my journey is being driven by the inspiration of my newfound community. I feel blessed every day to be a part of this network and rural family!
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Lily, Bush Tribe member
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Living in the country there seems to be greater pressure to drink.
It's generally laughed at when you say you don't drink and are pressured into having one 'with the boy (or girls)', so you don't go out, you don't go to local events. The hardships of farm life and rural isolation means we really enjoy catching up at events, but the drinking culture is in your face. Sober in the Country are all rural/remote people who support each other. [The Bush Tribe] members provide advice, making us feel not so isolated, and especially help with ways to deal with the drinking culture in the bush. I would be lost without the Tribers and Sober in the Country and would have given in to that pressure.
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Anonymous Bush Tribe member
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I am unaware of any peer support service that has the same level of acceptance and understanding that Sober in the Country has.
You can be 1 day or 10,000 days into your voyage, and you can be abstaining completely or simply trying to reduce – but it's all done with the same kind words and support from your peers.
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Terri, Bush Tribe member
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I joined the Bush tribe about one week into my sober journey and found I was not alone in everything I was going through.
I only wished I’d joined earlier and had access to the resources before starting to detox. I’m now three years sober and I believe Sober in the Country and its peer support group have played a major role in changing my life.
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Steve, Electrician
FOLLOW OUR DAILY ADVENTURES

  • The only thing better than being sober in the country is being sober in the country with a miniature donkey called Jimmy who loves scritches and head snuggles, right ? 😝🩷 Meet our newest SITC “head office” addition. He’s a little belter. Full of sass & attitude ! And so it is that our mascots are now: Jimmy, Mick (his bull calf yard mate,) Mallee & Daveo the blue heelers, and of course the boss of us ALL: Biscuit, the Jack Russell 🐶😎 If you’re going to live in serious isolation, it’s a solid plan to ensure many four-legged companions are in tow, we reckon ? 😬🫏🐶🩷
  • One of our Bush Tribe (peer support online group) members, Ty, writes and shares amazing poetry about his early days going sober in the country, and he graciously allows us to share. Here is another brave and honest belter: “Ten seconds in my head” Waylon, Cash and Hank taught me to not care what I write, These alcohol withdrawals, have me struggling to sleep at night. They say “one won’t hurt” and hell it probably won’t, but one leads to many and that’s why I’m here, A mile in my boots don’t mean a thing, ten seconds in my head though? That’ll make you shed a tear. From rum cans to ice pipes, I gave it all a decent crack, The devil sings out every day telling me, “come on back!” … It’s tempting because it’ll help me escape everyones bullshit and lies, Life for me has never been all parties and pies. So I saddle up a horse to ease my pain, They keep telling me every cloud is supposed to run outta rain. I’m finally happy and doing well in life and I won’t let anyone ruin that for me, This is my last good crack at sobriety and life itself before I’m on a wrong side of a guilty plea….. “ >> thank you, Ty, for your courage and honesty and vulnerability. Keep fighting and moving forward one day at a time, brother. We love you. And we are so proud of you.
  • @farmerdavek9m8 (aka “Farmer Dave”) wins the prize for somehow keeping our very original #OK2SAYNO trucker cap in absolute mint condition after all these years 👌🏽 He’s pictured here with one of his best little mates, Matilda 🐾 Dave is another rural man choosing the sober in the country lifestyle, and clearly it suits the man … he’s literally ageing backwards like Benjamin Button 😎💪🏽 We love you, Dave. Keep being wonderfully you. #farmerdave #bigbrother #og @bigbrotherau
  • A little DRUM ROLL, please, for our lovely southern mate Jake Chandler as we launch his brave, vulnerable, and inspirational episode of The Amplification Project tonight. Jake is familiar to a few of you already. But if you haven’t met him before, we’ll take you on a short walk with him through his time at Tipperary as a Ringer, his days as an Ag college student, and then onto his favourite roles as a husband, Dad, farmer, and now; a fella who chooses to be sober in the country. Jake still loves having a zero-alc ‘beer’ alongside his mates and is a really passionate advocate for not just regenerative agriculture but regenerative humans in agriculture—which, as you know, is 100% our passion. Again, we absolutely must acknowledge @Nuffield Australia scholar Claudia Benn, who, at an @RCS—Resource Consulting Services conference in Toowoomba—heard about our project and fully sponsored this episode. This is a huge, huge, generous thing. Credit always to our major partners for this project too: The Shine On Foundation. Finally, thanks to @Broken Yellow and Nav and Brando, who accompany our founder, Shan, to tell these stories. There is SO much love, care, and emotion in these stories, and words can never express our gratitude to the brave souls standing up alongside us to speak their truth and help us be the change. A final tip of the Akubra to lovely Nick Hovey, Gem, little Viv, Gem and Jake’s family and friends for helping out. Please, hit the share button on this. We absolutely guarantee you that someone in your network will benefit from seeing it. Grab a cuppa, and be inspired. 🥰#ok2sayno #rural #australia #alcohol #awareness #mentalhealth #change #soberinthecountry #sober #regenerativeagriculture #regen #ausag #agriculture #australia

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