Looking for a career move, a more fulfilled life, a better work life balance………

Living in a rural area offers a unique lifestyle that is often overlooked in today’s fast-paced, urban-centric world. While urban living certainly has its appeal, there are numerous benefits and pros to living and working in a rural setting.

From the tranquility of nature to a strong sense of community, rural living provides a distinct quality of life that can greatly enhance one’s well-being and overall happiness and you don’t need to compromise on your career goals.

Birchip P-12 School Teacher Marian Haddrick moved to Birchip in 2021 with her husband and two children and they quickly became entrenched in the local community. Marian is actively involved in the school community as well as the Early Learning Centre and Playgroup Committee and she identified a common problem that kept arising in conversation; that Birchip is a thriving community that has more job opportunities than it does people.

Marian couldn’t understand people’s reservations about relocating to a rural community for professional employment opportunities, so Marian approached the school leadership team and Birchip Forum to devise a way to help people see the benefits in moving to a rural community.

Together with local Buloke Shire Young Citizen of the year (2024) Blake Lee, they have created a short film which shows interviews with people that have successfully made the move to Birchip and the benefits they have found by coming to this Mallee town - the lifestyle advantages, employment opportunities and the resources available to them.

Marian felt she had an outsider’s perspective on what future families and young professionals would want to know about the town before moving here and Blake, a 2023 ABC Heywire winner and Birchip P-12 school captain, has used his film skills to capture the natural beauty of Birchip as well as the vibrant community events and various businesses to showcase what the community of Birchip has to offer.

Check it out: