Ongoing funding uncertainties could prevent the National Centre for Farmer Health (NCFH) from delivering essential farmer-focused programs and resources that support their mental health, wellbeing and safety.
Founded in 2008 as a partnership between Western District Health Service and Deakin University, the NCFH works with primary producers and agriculture industry members, researchers, health services and all levels of government to develop and deliver programs that support the health, safety and wellbeing of farmers at no cost to them.
NCFH Director and mental health researcher Alison Kennedy said a diverse range of funding streams form a vital lifeline for the NCFH to identify and prevent chronic disease and safety risk factors in the agriculture and farming community in a timely and effective way.
“Ongoing support from government and our corporate, philanthropic and industry partners is invaluable and means we can continue developing and delivering practical information, tools, training and services to farmers for free,” Alison said.
“Any changes to our core funding will have an immediate impact on our ability to deliver initiatives directly to farming communities and may mean we need to cut back on these services or stop them completely. We need ongoing support to keep farmers farming, as they are the backbone of agriculture’s $82 billion contribution to the Australian economy.
“While our head office is based in Hamilton, south-west Victoria, the NCFH operates nationally and has put Victoria and Australia on the map as a centre for excellence in agricultural health, wellbeing and safety research, education, service delivery and training.”
NCFH’s team includes professionals from health, agriculture, education/extension, behavioural and social sciences that work with farmers to develop and deliver a range of informed and impactful programs and resources including:
- Health & Lifestyle Assessments where farmers can get a free health check-up with an agrihealth-trained medical professional
- Farmer-focused mental health resources, such as the Managing Stress on the Farm booklet
- Unique education and training opportunities, such as the Shifting Gears farm safety education resources
- Essential research to support rural farmer health, wellbeing and safety and inform ongoing work at the NCFH.
Alison said there are several ways for organisations and individuals to support the NCFH through financial contributions and in-kind support. This includes collaborative projects, event and program partnerships, scholarship opportunities and donations.
“We are proud to work alongside a diverse range of leading organisations committed to supporting farming communities and driving positive change in farmer health, wellbeing and safety,” Alison said.
“We are actively seeking the support of partners, supporters and donors to continue our important work and make a lasting difference to farmers’ lives.”
For more information or to find out how to support the National Centre for Farmer Health, visit farmerhealth.org.au/partnerships-supporters.
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For more information, please contact:
Alison Kennedy – Director, National Centre for Farmer Health
P: 03 5551 8533 | M: 0407 549 970 | E: alison.kennedy@wdhs.net
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