Consolidating strong working partnerships and continuing ongoing government support were the central themes to emerge from last week’s National Centre for Farmer Health Parliament House event and Symposium in Canberra.
Keynote speakers, expert panellists and policy makers all identified these two elements as among the most important in maintaining the health, wellbeing, and safety of Australia’s farmers, farming families and the agricultural workforce.
National Centre for Farmer Health Director, Associate Professor Alison Kennedy, said the symposium emphasised the importance of stakeholder collaboration – including industry bodies, regulators, workplaces, researchers, government and policy makers.
“Bringing together these leaders to share their knowledge will now allow us to generate actions to positively transform health, wellbeing, and safety practices in agriculture-dependent communities,” A/Prof Kennedy said.
“With more than 60 symposium attendees from across Australia, the outcomes of the symposium will be a springboard for our programs and projects into the future.
“And we’ll also continue to advocate to governments at all levels about the importance of ongoing funding for the NCFH as well as the contributions received from our other partners,” she said.
Keynote speaker Professor Faye McMillan, Australia’s first Indigenous community pharmacist, Deputy National Rural Health Commissioner and Professor of Indigenous Health at University of Technology Sydney officially opened the Symposium.
Later guests were joined via video-link from Ireland by Dr David Meredith, of the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority (Teagasc). Dr Meredith described the importance of developing meaningful famer health solutions informed by agriculture’s grassroots, but influencing policy at a national (and international) level.
Attendees heard expert panel members from across the agricultural sector speak about their personal experiences on integrating local supports to improve mental health promotion and prevention initiatives and future strategies to effectively address the health, wellbeing, and safety needs of a diverse agricultural population.
During the first panel session clinical psychologist Associate Professor Kate Gunn spoke of the importance of involving farmers in the design and development of initiatives addressing farmer health, wellbeing and safety. “Even though it may not always be possible to take on every suggestion made, it’s critical that farmers are involved, have a voice and feel their input is heard and valued”.
Sarah Crosthwaite from Open Road Counselling and a Nuffield Scholarship winner told the session about the importance of complementing powerful lived experience stories with positive examples of seeking help and information about available supports. “It’s not just about a story, it’s about giving people in the room the encouragement and resources to take action and improve their wellbeing.”
Justin Koschitzke, a former St Kilda AFL football star and a mental health advocate, drew on his background and his own experience of telling his story to create positive change in farming communities.
The second panel session explored the changing nature of the agricultural workforce with a focus on current and future strategies to effectively address the health, wellbeing, and safety needs of a diverse agricultural population.
Panellist Mick Fuller, a specialist risk management and safety executive, told the session about steps the dairy industry was taking to collaboratively address risks to the health, wellbeing and safety of workers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Mick outlined opportunities to be working with a range of partners from education providers, labour hire companies and employers to ensure more effective and accessible training and induction materials.
The founder of the Ability Agriculture Foundation which enables people with disabilities to enter or remain, thrive and succeed in agriculture Josie Clarke spoke about the development of Ability Agriculture – what started as a social movement is fast becoming a platform for advocacy, education and entrepreneurship to improve opportunities for people of all abilities in agriculture.
FarmSafe Australia Chief Executive Stevi Howdle drew on both her personal experience of balancing motherhood with farming, and her professional role at FarmSafe – highlighting the need for improved consideration of farming womens’ safety. “It wasn’t until I became pregnant and then had a young child, that I realised just how challenging this can be. There is inadequate information and resources out there to support farming women at this critical time of their lives. This is particularly important when we are trying to attract women to be part of the agricultural workforce”.
Following an afternoon of interactive workshops, it was clear that this was only the start of an ongoing national conversation and a launching point for expanded and new collaborative partnerships. NCFH Director said “the room was buzzing and alive with new ideas and opportunities and there was a collective call for these gatherings to continue. Long-term funding is critical to supporting improved farmer health, wellbeing and safety. But it also requires a collective commitment to come together and work collaboratively, to ensure funds are used efficiently and effectively for evidence-based initiatives that reach every farmer. That commitment was clearly in the room here today.”
The symposium was supported by Deakin University’s Rural Health University Network, with sponsorship support from Dairy Australia, Gentlemen of Geelong and Udder Delights.
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For more information, please contact:
A/Prof Alison Kennedy
Director, National Centre for Farmer Health
P: (03) 5551 8533 | M: 0407 549 970
E: alison.kennedy@wdhs.net | W: www.farmerhealth.org.au
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