Dubbo’s Carol Mudford is one of three inspiring women from regional NSW that have been named finalists in the 2025 NSW/ACT AgriFutures Rural Women's Award.

Carol, a registered nurse, shearer, and wool handler, is the founder of sHedway, a community-led initiative providing mental health and suicide prevention support in the shearing industry.

“I’m very grateful to have this opportunity to shine the light on sHedway,” Carol said. “It’s a great chance to highlight how vibrant and how supportive the shearing community is."

Carol was encouraged to apply by Jenny Bradley, the joint stud principle and stock manager at New Armatree, north of Gilgandra. The Bradley family runs a mixed farming business and the New Armatree Border Leicester sheep stud.

Jenny and Carol’s aunty Pam Mudford had a conversation at a local show and the topic of conversation turned to sHedway and Carol’s work with the not-for-profit. Jenny was then able to get in contact with Carol and talk about her experiences as the NSW/ACT winner of the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award in 2005 and inform Carol she should try out for this year’s award. 

Jenny won her award for a project within the red meat supply-chain management as a director of the Tooraweenah Prime Livestock (TPL) marketing group.

On the back of her project, TPL implemented a field officer and tightened compliance around assessing lambs to meet market specifications.

Jenny said she will be going to this year’s finals to support Carol, who she beleives has such a worthy project.

“Carol has a great project to deliver that will provide benefits to the industry Carol is passionate about,” Jenny said.

“She has a great understanding and passion of the shearing industry… mental health is such a broad topic and she has narrowed it down and applied it so well in the shearing industry.”

Carol attended a two-day seminar in Sydney in late February where she had to pitch her project to judges including how any future grant would be spent and also attend media training.

Preparing a detailed application was no hurdle for Carol, who was completed plenty of hard work in her own time already with her non-for-profit organisation sHedway in 2023.

Carol’s discovery of her passion for shearing in 2020 led her to shearing full-time and she represented NSW as State Novice Champion at the 2023 Sports Shear Nationals.

After returning to healthcare as a mental health nurse, she recognised the prevalence of suicide in the shearing community, and the opportunity for change. With her knowledge of suicide prevention, Carol created sHedway which rapidly grew into a national movement.

During 2024, her team delivered 42 events across every state of mainland Australia, promoting mental health awareness and skills at shearing events, talks, and industry engagement.

Combining her healthcare, advocacy, and shearing expertise, Carol is committed to making mental health a priority in the shearing community.

“I’m incredibly humbled to be recognised among the strong, proactive women of rural Australia,” Carol said. “The big hearts and can-do attitude of the shearing shed family make anything seem possible, and it is with strong communities looking out for each other that we can all live well.

“Thank you for highlighting the strength and contributions of women within our communities across rural Australia.”

The other NSW/ACT finalists are Dimity Smith from Tamworth (founder GRO Rural and GRO Events Group, innovative businesses connecting agricultural and rural communities, industries, and professionals across Australia), and Katelyn Wall from Nemingha (co-founder of award-winning beekeeping and pollination business Wall’s Honey Co).

This year, the spotlight is on the exceptional regional talent who have founded their own organisations and businesses, significantly contributing to the prosperity of regional and rural communities in NSW, a press release stated.

Minister for agriculture and regional NSW Tara Moriarty congratulated Carol, Dimity and Katelyn for their "impact within regional and rural communities in NSW”.

“This government remains steadfast in supporting inspirational women who are making a difference and ensuring the long-term success of the communities they live and work in,” she said. “I am proud to see such amazing and innovative talent, combining healthcare, community spirit and agriculture. These women have started grass-root movements in their communities, personally touching the lives of many people through their work.”

AgriFutures Australia Chief Operating Officer Belinda Allitt added: "It is AgriFutures’ privilege to provide these women with a platform to build on their leadership skills to drive change in rural and regional Australia and receive the recognition that they are more than deserving of. We’re excited to follow their journeys, welcome them to the alumni and provide them the support to accelerate their impact across Australian rural communities and industries.” 

The prize of the NSW/ACT AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award is a $15,000 Westpac grant for a project, business, or program, access to professional development opportunities and alumni networks.

The 2025 NSW/ACT winner will be announced in early May.

The NSW/ACT winner will then compete with other six state winners.

The national winner and runner-up will be announced in September at Parliament House in Canberra.

Across the past 24 years, this award has gained a significant profile, and is recognised as a program of influence among parliamentarians, industry, media, and award alumni.

The Rural Women’s Award is one of many AgriFutures Australia initiatives ensuring our rural industries prosper now, and into the future.