Mental health advocate and founder of non-for-profit organisation sHedway, Carol Mudford, has been announced as the state winner of the 2025 NSW/ACT AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award.
Starting off as a small community-led initiative in Dubbo NSW in 2023, sHedway has expanded into a national movement, with Ms Mudford promoting mental health awareness by blending healthcare, advocacy, and shearing industry expertise in regional communities in NSW and around Australia.
“It is very exciting to see Carol announced as the NSW/ACT state winner. As a woman wearing many hats in the industry, it is inspiring to see her marrying up her expertise as a healthcare provider, shearer, and wool handler to create meaningful change for rural and regional communities,” said AgriFutures Australia Chief Operating Officer, Belinda Allitt.
“Mental health support and suicide prevention is a critical service required by our industries and their people and I praise Carol for her dedication and commitment to the prosperity of our industries. We look forward to supporting Carol and sHedway to support others, via her involvement in this award.”
Ms Mudford was up against two other finalists for the NSW/ACT state award – founder GRO Rural and GRO Events Group, Dimity Smith from Tamworth, and co-founder of award-winning beekeeping and pollination business Wall’s Honey Co, Katelyn Wall from Nemingha.
As winner of the award, Ms Mudford will receive a $15,000 grant from Westpac to go towards professional development opportunities and alumni networks.
“Congratulations to Carol for your determination to supporting the wool industry into a new, more resilient era,” said Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty.
“Your pioneering efforts have succeeded, and we congratulate you for your well-deserved title as winner of the NSW/ACT AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award.
“I encourage any woman with a dream to make a positive impact in their regional and rural communities in NSW to be inspired by Carol.
“Her hard work has personally helped the lives of many shearers, giving the industry a well-supported network to grow.”
She will now represent NSW/ACT at the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award Gala Dinner at Australian Parliament House in Canberra in September. The National winner will receive a further $20,000 grant from Westpac and National Runner-Up, an additional $15,000.
“We are incredibly proud to have Carol taking out the top honour and going on to represent New South Wakes on the national stage,” said Minister for Women, Jodie Harrison.
“She is highly deserving of this award with her incredible achievements supporting regional communities in New South Wales and around the country.
“sHedway is a perfect example of how women can pursue their passion and meet the needs of their community in an innovative way.
“Regional and rural women as some of the smartest and most resilient women I know, and they are unwavering in dedicating their time in supporting their communities to succeed.”
All three finalists were sponsored by The Country Women’s Association of NSW, with each receiving $1,000 for their self-founded organisations.
The 2026 Rural Women’s Award nominations will open in September 2025. Find out more information about the Rural Women’s Award, including nomination requirements on the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award web page.
