Toowoomba to host national conference

Founder and CEO Stephanie Trethewey, joined by Toowoomba local and newly appointed Motherland Marketing & Events manager Jane McAlpine, were in Toowoomba on Tuesday, 11th February to announce that The Garden City will host Motherland’s second ever national conference in 2026.

It comes as the charity calls on more rural mums to participate in a first-of-its-kind national survey into rural motherhood to help address gaps, identify pain points and enable impactful solutions, which the charity will take to decision makers across all levels of government.

Held in Queensland for the very first time, the national conference will bring together hundreds of women from across Australia to Toowoomba for a two-day event celebrating rural motherhood. Attendees will hear from an exceptional lineup of speakers, including experts and celebrities, discussing topics relevant to rural motherhood, emotional wellbeing, and mental health. In addition to the conference, a Gala Dinner will be held, with tickets made available to the public, offering a fantastic opportunity for the region to connect and celebrate the strength of women in our rural community.

The announcement follows the success of Motherland’s inaugural National Conference which was held in Tasmania in 2024 to a sell-out crowd of over 250 women from every state. The event was officially opened by Tasmanian Premier and Minister for Mental Health at the time, Jeremy Rockcliff.

National charity Motherland is reducing isolation and improving mental health outcomes for rural mothers across the country. Through its suite of services including the Motherland podcast, the Motherland Village program, its Scholarship Fund and nationwide events, it has become the voice and village that rural mums desperately needed but didn’t have, until now.