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!
”
Lily, Bush Tribe member
“
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.
”
Steve, Electrician
FOLLOW OUR DAILY ADVENTURES

  • “It was genuinely a huge honour to be invited to the @calrossyanglicanschool to speak to almost 300 visitors last night after a really big gap between speaker events thanks to some crippling hurdles & challenges over the last little 12 months. As always, I simply speak the truth from the heart and I absolutely always add liberal and healthy doses of irreverent humour—which people never expect but always admit being delighted and surprised by. I’ve always loved humour. Especially the self-deprecating type. Because for me, that’s just who I am. A shameless self-confessed bush bogan with a story as common and as old as time. But it’s a difficult story - and I’ve always found that irreverent humour helps so much to break up the intense and emotional bits, for me and for the inevitably large percentage of the audiences who have lived with (or loved someone impacted by) alcohol harm. Typically, when I give a keynote, there is always a lot of laughing, a few tears, sometimes pin-drop silence, and ALWAYS the best hugs, chats, connections, and friendships made. And the most rewarding aspect, always, is sheer gratitude from people who take the time to thank me for finding a way to keep talking about the most difficult topic of all in the bush, which underpins almost EVERY single safety, health, and mental health conversation in the bush. I want to thank Bronte Gillan, the RUOK committee from the school, and those who supported these remarkable young women and the local Rotary group who facilitated this free community event. And to Kate and the many who’ve sent such tremendously beautiful feedback and encouragement or shared their own stories. Thank you for reminding me of my purpose and passion and why Sober in the Country Ltd is so important to so many people. I am truly grateful - Shanna.” (CEO & Founder, SITC.)
  • L-R are @calrossyanglicanschool “RUOK” student committee members Phoebe, Bronte, and Izzy. These amazing young students have organised almost 300 people to attend a free community event here in Tamworth, with our founder Shan sharing the #OK2SAYNO message and @sober_in_the_country story 🩷 Thank you so much, girls! You’re amazing X
  • G’day everyone. It’s been a minute - as we take a big break from socials each year to detox and reboot. But we wanted to share that SITC is heading to @calrossyanglicanschool next Monday night - where our founder Shanna will chat with parents and students about how we can all be part of affecting positive change in the rural space around ensuring our mates (whether that’s parents or students) know it’s #OK2SAYNO to alcohol. We are told that over 200 seats have already been booked 😀🥰 - so that is a huge privilege and honour - given our charity is super focused on going “upstream” and preventing harm. Please visit the @calrossyanglicanschool socials if you’d like to resister 🩷
  • Today we just want to again cheekily interrupt our own social media detox because ***holy cow*** we simply HAVE to acknowledge, congratulate, and stand in AWE of the work, courage, heart and soul of @neddbrockmann as he clocked up 1,000 miles of running (an unimaginable challenge he set himself a while back) for the charity @wearemobilise - raising over $2.5 million for homeless people in this nation. Nedd is an originally a rural man, born and bred, from central west NSW. Dang, they sure do make ‘em tough out west !! Nedd, we join the rest of this nation in tipping our caps to you, sir. Hopefully you can rest now, and enjoy some quality time with your beautiful crew. Respect, love, and healing vibes to your body from us 🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡

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