Shearer–Nurse Leads Mental Health Push in Wool Sheds

Combining her passion for nursing with her life in the shearing industry, Carol Mudford has created a unique path shaped by both care and community. Raised in a sheep and cropping family, she returned to the sheds during COVID, when a few weeks of wool handling turned into months - and eventually into shearing school and 18 months on the handpiece.

At the same time, Carol moved into mental health nursing. In her first month, the shearing community lost three people to suicide, bringing the issue into sharp focus and inspiring her to act. With a “foot in both worlds,” she founded sHedway, a suicide-prevention and mental-health charity built from inside the shearing industry itself.

Carol joined The Aussie Lambscape from the road in Menindee, NSW - a fitting place for someone who spends much of her year travelling between sheds, workshops and regional communities.

Q: sHedway describes itself as “born from the sheds, for the sheds.” What does that mean to you?

Carol: It’s exactly who we are. Everyone involved in sHedway is genuinely part of the shearing industry - shearers, wool handlers, classers, shed staff, contractors and even our families. I’m a registered nurse, a wool handler, a competitive sport shearer, and I still work in sheds. My family are wool growers too.

So, when we turn up at shows, workshops or events, we’re not outsiders coming in to tell people what to do - we’re already part of the crew. We’re there as ourselves, doing what we’ve always done, just with an extra purpose.

Q: Why is it important that sHedway is led by people within the industry?

Carol: When I first started talking to people about the idea, I expected some hesitation - you know, “Do we need this?” But instead, people were incredibly supportive. We’ve lost too many people in the sheds, and the need was obvious.

We explored partnering with an existing organisation, but in the end, we chose to stay independent because it mattered that this came from us - from inside the industry. If we were an outside organisation, we’d look like we were just putting up posters and telling people what to do. This way, the message is trusted, real, and accepted. Being industry-led is also how we make mental health conversations normal. Our shearers, contractors, trainers and families take posters around, share numbers, organise workshops, and have those micro-conversations that ripple through sheds everywhere.

Q: What makes sHedway different from other mental health initiatives?

Carol: Authenticity. We’re not stepping into the sheds - we’re already there. That changes the whole feeling of the conversation. We’re practical, relatable, and we understand the rhythms and culture of the shed. We know what it’s like to be transient, to live out of a ute, to travel constantly, and to work in unpredictable environments. That shared experience means our approach lands differently - people trust us because we get it.

Q: How does sHedway make mental health conversations normal and safe in the sheds?

Carol: “Normal” and “safe” are two very different things - and both are intentional.

We don’t just send anyone out to speak. Everyone on our team is trained, supported, and mentored. We always work in pairs, so no one is left alone to handle a tricky conversation without support. Everyone working with us completes safeTALK, and we also working towards putting people through mental health first aid and a two-day suicide safety workshop. We model safe conversations, safe language and safe boundaries - and that helps the whole community feel safer to talk. Intentionality is everything. Making it normal starts by simply doing it - talking about mental health as naturally as we talk about gear, wool quality or weekend plans.

Q: What can people expect if they visit your stalls or workshops?

Carol: At events, we have clear resources that show people where to go for expert help - Lifeline, Beyond Blue, local services, and other support relevant to each area. We talk over the microphone during the day, share what sHedway is about, and often we’re involved in the event already - competing, volunteering or helping on committees. Our workshops range from Toolbox talks to safeTALK sessions. One example: in our safeTALK workshop, we make a practice group call to Lifeline. It’s powerful - 70–80% of people say they feel more confident to call in the future just because they’ve done it once with us.

Q: Are there particular mental health challenges unique to the shearing industry?

Carol: The issues aren’t necessarily different to the rest of Australia - but the barriers are. We’re remote, isolated, and always on the move. Our address might be one town, but we’re rarely there. That means accessing support is hard.

Because of that, when things get tough, it’s harder to get help. We’re also largely invisible in data sets, so the challenges aren’t always well understood.

The impact on the industry is real. But the solution lies in strengthening the shed family - shearers, growers, shed staff, contractors, agents, trainers and families - and linking us to the expert services that are out there. Everyone plays a part.

Q: What impact are you seeing from your work, and how do you know it’s working?

Carol: The impact is phenomenal, and growing. I see more people talking openly about mental health. I hear some shearers talking about counselling like it’s normal. After toolbox talks, shed groups have told me the whole vibe lifted - more supportive, more connected. Students message me to say they’re checking in on each other after we visit. After safeTALK workshops, people tell us they now feel confident to ask, “Are you thinking about suicide?” and to call Lifeline if needed. That’s the change we want.

Q: What does an average day look like for you?

Carol: Very varied! I travel a lot - I like being on the road. I live out of my Hilux with my dog and, depending on the trip, an old caravan. One half of the back seat is my sHedway office, the other is shearing gear. In the back I’ve got a bag of shearing clothes, a bag of “Carol clothes,” and a bag of “conference clothes.”

Q: You recently won the National AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award. How has that helped your work?

Carol: It’s been incredible. The Westpac bursary is a huge support - we’re using it to run more workshops around the country and cover travel costs. But the alumni network is the best part. It’s inspiring, supportive and full of women doing amazing things for rural Australia. The exposure from the award has also helped raise awareness about sHedway.

Q: How can people get involved or support your work?

Carol: Please get in touch through our website - shedway.org.au - or our Facebook page. Facebook is where it all started, and where we post most regularly. We have had such incredible support from the shearing community, and it makes us so hopeful and motivated to keep going. We’re working on building everything as we go - building the plane while flying it!

In 2026, we’re planning: a sHedway Forum and Toolbox Talks in every sheep-producing state, a strong program of workshops in the Dubbo region and attending the Shearing World Championships in New Zealand, plus more. We will also look to expand our board, and our team of sHedway Legends across Australia, and welcome interest from people connected to the shearing sheds.

Please get in touch if you’d like a workshop, event or shed visit, or want to contribute in any way.