The National Centre for Farmer Health is on the lookout for farmers, rural health professionals and agriculture industry members from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland to help drive an exciting update of the AgriSafe program which provides comprehensive health and wellbeing checkups for farmers.
Expressions of interest to join a Steering Committee are open until 31 October. The existing AgriSafe program offers 90-minute, one-on-one farmer health checkups which identify occupational hazards and exposures unique to farming and provide personalised education on ways to stay safe on the farm and improve everyday lifestyle behaviours.
The new AgriSafe 2.0 project will run for five years and is led by the National Centre for Farmer Health in collaboration with research and health service partners, with funding from the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund.
“The redesign of AgriSafe will fill a crucial gap in bringing tailored support on farmer health, wellbeing and safety to rural areas where there are high rates of chronic illness and injuries among the farming population and limited access to health services,” National Centre for Farmer Health Director, Associate Professor Alison Kennedy said.
“Farmers work hard every day – but a healthy farmer can keep on farming. AgriSafe 2.0 will make it easier for farmers to get on the front foot with their health, identify and manage any issues such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and act on farming-specific risks such as exposure to dust and agrichemicals. Ultimately, this means a healthier farmer and a healthier farming business in the long run.”
The first stage of the project will involve a full review of the current AgriSafe model, including interviews with farmers, health professionals and members of the agricultural industry. Insights from this stage will inform the design of a revised health, wellbeing and safety program that is relevant, engaging and accessible to farmers across Australia.
The Steering Committee will meet quarterly via video conference and will play a key role in guiding the entire project from late 2025 to June 2029. A sitting fee is also available to members.
“The Steering Committee has a unique opportunity to guide the development and delivery of the new AgriSafe 2.0 program. We’re keen to hear from farmers about their lived experience, as well as rural health professionals and members of the agriculture industry. Their feedback will ensure AgriSafe 2.0 continues to make a real difference to farmers and their local communities and help us understand what’s needed to roll out and support the program in the long term,” Alison said.
The existing AgriSafe checkups are currently delivered in western Victoria, and the redesigned program will be trialled initially in Victoria, with plans to expand to New South Wales and Queensland in the third year of the program.
For more information, visit: https://farmerhealth.org.au/agrisafe-clinics
AgriSafe 2.0 is delivered in partnership with Deakin University, Western District Health Service, the Alliance of Rural and Regional Community Health (ARRCH), the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation, Darling Downs Health Service, West Moreton Health Service and Central Queensland University.
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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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