Symposium Overview
Farming a Brighter Future explored the health, wellbeing and safety challenges and opportunities faced by Australia’s agricultural workforce, including how research is being translated into action to create better outcomes for the sector.
Through a combination of workshops, panel discussions and presentations, the event created a forum to foster learning, promote discussion and extend collaborative networks to make a difference to farmers’ lives, both now and into the future.
All sessions at the event were recorded so both virtual and in-person attendees will be able to view them. Please find them all below.
Session Recordings
Session 1: The power of communication: Influencing engagement and health, wellbeing and safety through media messaging*
This panel includes a presentation and discussion from media/social media, communications, training and social marketing to explore how to engage effectively with farming populations and how using appropriate content, language and imagery can represent diversity, avoid stereotypes, and support and promote health, wellbeing and safety.
Chair
Rohan Fitzgerald, Western District Health Service
Speakers
- Dr. Timo Dietrich (Griffith University)
- Cathie Schnitzerling (ABC Landline)
- Rob McRae (Auschem Training Board Member/Chair)
- Annabelle Macgugan (NCFH)
- Alex Thomas (Founder of #plantaseedforsafety)
*Unfortunately we encountered some issues while recording this session. We apologise for the lower quality of audio.
Session 2: Mental Health in Agriculture: From understanding risk to improving pathways to support
This panel session includes presentations and discussions with researchers, educators and service providers to highlight current and emerging risks to farmer mental health and demonstrate approaches to preventing, mitigating and responding to risk through education/training, tailored resource development and service provision.
Chair
Kirsten Diprose
Speakers
- Lauren Stracey (Rural Aid)
- Dr Alison Kennedy (NCFH)
- Rebecca Marshall (WorkSafe Victoria)
- Dr. Joanna Macdonald (NCFH)*
- Kelly Barnes (Founder of Mates Working Dog School)
*Dr Joanna Macdonald was unable to attend on the day, so Dr Alison Kennedy stepped in to present on her behalf.
Session 3.1: Think locally, act globally: breaking down barriers and scaling opportunities for growth in agricultural health, wellbeing and safety
This collection of presentations showcased efforts to (i) understand and positively shift culture, and (ii) maximise the scalability of effort to ensure a broader shift in attitudes, behaviour and health, wellbeing and safety outcomes for farming populations across Australia and internationally.
Chair
Sarah Crosthwaite (NCFH Advisory Group)
Speakers
- Dr. Jacquie Cotton (NCFH)
- Dr. Lisa Cowan (Agriculture Victoria)
- Dr. Amity Latham (NCFH)
- Sally Cunningham (NCFH)
- John Darcy (Making our Farms Safer (VFF)
Session 3.2: Reaching the ‘Hard to Reach’: Increasing impact through co-design and collaboration
This collection of presentations showcased research and service initiatives that have been either (i) co-designed with farmers, community and industry to increase their applicability and engagement with farming populations, or (ii) developed collaboratively with industry and community partners. Presenters discussed findings, reflected on lessons learned and shared recommendations for ongoing or future work.
Chair
Heather Fleming (NCFH Advisory Group)
Speakers
- Sally Cunningham (NCFH)
- Kelly Barnes (NCFH)
- Dr. Alyna Turner (Deakin IMPACT)
- Susan Scarr (Connect Well)
- Kim McDonnell (Thankful for Farmers)
Session 4.1: Rural workforce recruitment, retention and capacity building to support farmer health, wellbeing and safety
This collection of presentations explored rural workforce capacity building from numerous angles, farm recruitment and retention, through to cultivating workforce knowledge and competency when engaging with farming communities about health, wellbeing and safety. The session incorporated the various perspectives of researchers, educators, employers and employees.
Chair
Greg Walcott (NCFH Board Chair)
Speakers
- Dr. Cath Cosgrave (Cath Cosgrave Consulting)
- Dr. Jacquie Cotton (NCFH)
- Louise Scott (GCAHM Graduate, National Emergency Management Agency)
- Fiona Whale (Rural Bank)
- Lauren McDonald (Psychologist/Rural Health and Stress Trainer)
- Cecilia Fitzgerald (NCFH)
Session 4.2: Building rural workforce capacity through supporting rural research pathways
This session will showcase a selection of Honours and HDR student projects covering a range of rural and farmer health, wellbeing and safety topics.
Chair
Hugh Macdonald (NCFH Advisory Group)
Speakers
- Jessie Adams – Child Safety on Farms (PhD) (NCFH)
- Claire McKay – Filtering the Facts: A meta-analysis of risk factors for Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Origin (Honours) (NCFH)
- Jordan Walker – Agrichemical and Quad Bike Safety (Honours) (NCFH)
- Mariel Flores Lima – Emerging infectious diseases in light of climate change (PhD) (CeRRF/NCFH)
- Mary Malakellis – Developing a model of care for frequent potentially avoidable presentations to ED (PhD) (DRH)
Closing Session: Cultivating Health, Wellbeing and Safety in the Agriculture-dependent Workforce: Strategies to future-proof the agricultural industry
This final session included presentations and questions from leaders in agriculture (including young farmers), rural research and rural health. This session is designed to highlight innovative thinking, inspire best practice approaches and identify areas for future growth in farmer health, wellbeing and safety.
Speakers
- Gavin Merriman (Aurora Dairies)
- Emma Germano (VFF)
- Clay Gowers (Young Farmer’s Advisory Council)
- Dr. Rachel Huxley (Deakin University)
- The Hon. Gayle Tierney (Minister for Agriculture)*
*Due to the passing of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, The Hon. Gayle Tierney was unable to attend.