Episode 1: Working Effectively in a Family Business

In this episode, John Broons, a family business advisor, and Hugh Macdonald, a sheep farmer from South-West Victoria discuss how to navigate the challenges and rewards of working effectively in a family farm business. They explore how to avoid strained relationships, increased conflict and confusion about roles within the business.

Now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and here.

This podcast is part of the Primary Producer Knowledge Network led by the National Centre for Farmer Health to promote mentally healthy workplaces. Campfire, part of the Primary Producer Knowledge Network, was funded by the Victorian State Government’s WorkSafe WorkWell Mental Health Improvement Fund.

So, you’ve got some big ideas for the farm – but how do you get your family to listen?

This topic will be discussed as part of our online bonfire on May 19, “Working Effectively in a Family Business.”

Every harvest, Rebecca* tells herself it’s going to be different. They’re going to be more prepared – the fruit pickers will be hired earlier, there’ll be plenty of time for training at their Swan Hill orchard and all the other niggling farm jobs will be done before the busiest time of the year.

But somehow, it never happens.

At least, no one could have predicted the challenges horticulture was going to face last harvest. Covid-19 meant the usual seasonal backpacker workforce simply wasn’t there. And Rebecca had the added responsibility of keeping the staff she did have, COVID-safe, while also juggling border closures.

But now she wants to make some changes and take more control of how the business finds their workforce. After all, there’s so much you can’t control in farming (like the weather, water availability, markets and yes, global pandemics). Finding 30 people to pick and package stone fruit every year, is never easy. It’s hard to find reliable people and Rebecca regularly has to diffuse personality conflicts amongst the pickers. Rebecca wants to hire a reliable workforce and provide a safe and healthy environment for the workers so that they’re keen to return each year to her family’s business.

“Just finding the right people in time for harvest and making sure they’ve all had the appropriate safety training, is always stressful,” Rebecca said.

“There’s got to be a better way.”

Rebecca is keen to develop a local workforce or at least a regular one, which can return every year to remove some of the stressors in her role. At 35, with a lifetime of horticulture experience and an agriculture and business degree behind her, she’s also ready to take more of a leadership role in the business. Rebecca also wants to restructure parts of the enterprise and develop new local and even international supply chains.

 But what do you do when the leadership team is too busy to listen? And what if they’re also your father, mother and older brother?

“We always seem to be chasing our tail, there’s never time to sit down and talk about where we want to be in five years or ten years, or what our roles are, or could be in the future,” Rebecca said.

When she brings her ideas up, a whole raft of other family and business issues get thrown into the mix and the conversation gets uncomfortable, quickly.

John Broons is a family business advisor and says the key to good communication is to always keep business issues separate and to run a very structured meeting, just as any business would.

He even suggests forming a ‘family charter’ to define the rules and values of the business.

“That set of rules is agreed to by the family. It’s not tied by law, but it’s agreed within the family and it can be changed.”

Mr Broons suggests the family charter should be reviewed every two or three years.

“It’s so the generations coming behind us have an understanding of where the family business has come from, but it also gives them the opportunity to make changes in the business.”

And while change can be hard and even uncertain at times – it’s an aspect of farming you can control.

Having systems in place to communicate effectively and make key decisions in the family business supports your farm business to be a more mentally healthy workplace for all involved.

MEDIA RELEASE: Campfire – Connecting primary producers to prevent mental health risks

It’s well known that farmers and fishers face a range of work-related challenges that put them at risk of poor mental health and suicide. While there has been a concerted effort to improve support for those experiencing poor mental health, a movement to prevent mental health risks—and therefore avoid a mental health crisis—has been gathering momentum at the National Centre for Farmer Health (NCFH).
 
NCFH Senior Research Fellow Dr Alison Kennedy stressed the importance of preventing risks to mental health for all primary producers: “Victoria’s primary producers (including farmers and fishers) are a vulnerable workforce. Many industries are undergoing significant transition—resulting in a wide range of work-related challenges that pose potential risk to individuals’ mental wellbeing. These challenges include an ageing and reducing workforce, rapidly increasing technological demands, exposure to a global marketplace, extreme environmental conditions and increasing uncertainty.”
 
These well-identified risks have triggered an important new project at the NCFH. The Primary Producer Knowledge Network (PPKN) was set up last year to develop a range of prevention strategies for reducing the risk of work-related poor mental health for farmers and fishers. One of the key differences with this project is the strong involvement of primary producers themselves in developing these strategies to make sure what is developed is helpful and relevant for farmers and fishers. As Dr Kennedy explains, “we have worked extensively over a 12-month period with a wide range of primary producers and stakeholders from across different farming sectors—including dairy, broadacre cropping, horticulture and livestock production—as well as the commercial fishing sector. This project is designed by primary producers for primary producers. ”
 
An innovative and exciting new web-based platform is now about to be launched as part of the PPKN. ‘Campfire’ serves farmers and fishers through (i) interaction with experts and peer networks, (ii) practical tools and resources, and (iii) solution-focused stories that address work-related challenges. The platform will help improve farmers and fishers systems of work to better manage the demands and challenges of primary production, and develop mentally healthy workplaces for owners/managers, workers and their families. ‘Campfire’ topics have been developed to address work-related risk factors to mental health including low job control, high job demand, low role clarity, poorly managed relationships and poor levels of support.
 
“This is all about finding solutions and practical ways for our farmers and fishers to take action,” explained Dr Kennedy. “Campfire brings primary producers together in a relaxed environment where people with shared interests can get together, listen to experts and peers, ask questions and pose solutions. Campfire will cover a wide range of topics from ways to work more effectively with family members and seasonal/contract workers, through to decision making, succession planning and knowing more about the experts that are out there to help us get through challenging times. The online Campfire will be lit each Tuesday – Thursday evening from 7.30pm, with a Bonfire event held fortnightly to hear from topic experts and ask questions.”
 
“We also know that not all producers will be interested or comfortable in an online environment,” said Dr Kennedy. “Because of this, Campfire will be supported by a range of complementary materials including podcasts, blogs, social media and hard copy resources. There is something for every primary producer. We will also be running a Victoria-wide roadshow over the coming months to showcase Campfire and highlight ways to build mentally healthy workplaces for farmers and fishers.”
 
More information about the Primary Producer Knowledge Network can be seen here: https://farmerhealth.org.au/campfire/primary-producer-knowledge-network.
The Campfire digital platform can be accessed here: https://farmerhealth.org.au/campfire

The Primary Producer Knowledge Network and the Campfire platform is being funded by the Victorian Government’s WorkSafe WorkWell Mental Health Improvement Fund.
 
*** ENDS ***

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROJECT, PLEASE CONTACT: 

National Centre for Farmer Health:
Dr Alison Kennedy
Senior Research Fellow Deakin University
Phone: 03 5551 8533
Email: a.kennedy@deakin.edu.au

Farmer Health eNews May 2021

Find out the latest from the National Centre for Farmer Health

• Healthy and Sustainable Agricultural Communities (HMF702) Scholarship Applications are NOW OPEN!
• Have you tried our new Famer HAT?
• New Fact Sheet – Why Exercise Is Important
• Wellness Wednesday

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Why exercise is important

As a farmer you will know that work never ends. Up at dawn and asleep later than most. Farming has always been considered one of the most physically demanding environments to work in. Although a lot of the workload is physical, research shows that many farmers don’t do as much physical activity as they used to.

It is also likely to be seasonal activity so you may not be quite as ’fit for purpose’ as you used to be. 

Farming can still be a physically demanding way of life but information shows that modern age farming is relying more on machinery, vehicles (rather than horses) and technology. This essentially means farmers are spending a lot more time sitting down.

The importance of exercise is no secret and it’s not specific to any one person or industry –everyone will benefit from daily exercise and movement. However, those who are spending most of the time sitting during the day are at a higher risk of serious health complications such as diabetes, heart disease, some cancers, mental health issues, and musculoskeletal aches and pains.

A study conducted by The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found that when compared with people living in major cities and inner regional areas, people living in outer regional, rural and remote areas were more likely to engage in high risk health behaviours.

These high risk behaviours include:

1. Smoking
2. Poor diet choices and eating patterns (eg skipping meals)
3. Risky alcohol consumption
4. Not getting enough exercise.

Common Health Issues for Farmers

Physical Problems

The physical pressures put on the body when farming can put a lot of demands on the joints, spine, and nervous system. From lifting heavy objects, jumping up and down off machinery, and having to react quickly to animals, handling heavy animals (e.g. crutching sheep), and vibration from motor bikes can all pose a risk to your body.

Having a body that is strong and stable can help reduce injuries and help the body react safer and faster to any situation.

Poor Mental Health

Poor mental health and alarming suicide rates are the re-occurring theme throughout the communities affected by the drought, floods, fires and COVID-19. Tragically, Beyond Blue reports that the suicide rate in very remote areas of Australia is more than double that within our major cities.

Regular exercise has been found to have a profoundly positive impact on mental health. It also relieves stress, improves memory, helps you sleep better, and boosts your overall mood.

A study found that exercise can be as effective as medication and psychotherapies. One way that movement can boost mood is by increasing a brain protein called Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) that helps nerve fibers grow, making you feel happier.

The NCFH has also developed a number of support documents that you can access here.

Ageing Workforce

The average age of a farmer is now 57 years old. At this age it is expected to see an increase in conditions such as arthritis, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Keeping your physical and mental health in tip top shape as we age is vital to reduce age related concerns. Exercise can support every single part of our bodies fight off the effects of age!

If you are over 65, Exercise Right is offering subsidised exercise classes run by professionals to help you get more active and take control of your health. Click here for more.

Why exercise is important

Exercise relieves tension and stress, boosts physical and mental energy, and enhances well-being through the release of endorphins. Essentially anything that gets your body moving can help manage your physical and mental health.

It’s important to note that exercise doesn’t have to be in a gym or a custom-built facility, it can be as simple as a walk, stretching session, or using items around the house as weights.

Exercise should be seen as an opportunity to be able to perform every part of your job at the highest level. Exercise can help you avoid injuries, increase your work capacity and fight off work related health conditions and mental health.

Expert support

There are a range of different accredited exercise professionals who can support the rural and remote farming population. Accredited exercise physiologists are university training professionals who tailor exercise programs to suit your lifestyle and health condition. You can find your closest expert by clicking here.

Fast Facts:

• Doing any physical activity is better than doing none. If you currently do no physical activity, start by doing some, and gradually build up to the recommended amount.
• Be active on most, preferably all, days every week.
• Accumulate 150 to 300 minutes (2 ½ to 5 hours) of moderate intensity physical activity or 75 to 150 minutes (1 ¼ to 2 ½ hours) of vigorous intensity physical activity, or an equivalent combination of both moderate and vigorous activities, each week.
• Do muscle strengthening activities on at least 2 days each week.
• If you already have an injury or health concern, talk to your GP or local Accredited Exercise Physiologist before undertaking any additional exercise.

Translating Co-Design from Face-to-Face to Online: An Australian Primary Producer Project Conducted during COVID-19

Abstract

Primary producers face considerable risks for poor mental health. While this population can be difficult to engage in programs to prevent poor mental health, approaches tailored to reflect the context of primary producers’ life and work have been successful. This paper reports on the co-design phase of a project designed to prevent poor mental health for primary producers—specifically, the advantages, challenges and considerations of translating face-to-face co-design methods to an online environment in response to COVID-19 restrictions. The co-design phase drew upon the existing seven-step co-design framework developed by Trischler and colleagues. Online methods were adopted for all steps of the process. This paper models how this co-design approach can work in an online, primary producer context and details key considerations for future initiatives of this type. The development of online co-design methods is an important additional research method for use not only during a pandemic but also when operating with limited resources or geographic constraints. Results demonstrate the following:
(i) co-designing online is possible given adequate preparation, training and resource allocation;
(ii) “hard to reach” populations can be engaged using online methods providing there is adequate early-stage relationship building;
(iii) co-design quality need not be compromised and may be improved when translating to online; and
(iv) saved costs and resources associated with online methods can be realigned towards intervention/service creation, promotion and user engagement. Suggestions for extending Trischler and colleagues’ model are incorporated.

Farmer Health eNews April 2021

Find out the latest from the National Centre for Farmer Health

• Campfire is set to launch in May and we need your help to ignite it!
• Steering Straight: My plan to keep on track
• Meet the team
• Wellness Wednesday

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Farmer Health eNews March 2021

Find out the latest from the National Centre for Farmer Health

• We are looking for people to pilot test Steering Straight: My Plan to Keep on Track
• Our AgriSafe Australia™ Program is now available in new locations!
• The team are back in action—see what programs are now available in 2021
• Wellness Wednesday

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Media Release: Important regional COVID-19 study commenced

Some local people have recently received an SMS inviting them to part of a survey on how attending the COVID screening clinics has affected them. It is not a scam! ⁠
⁠
Western District Health Service (WDHS), Hamilton and South West Healthcare, Warrnambool have been so important in screening and detecting COVID-19 cases in our region. Their COVID-19 services have been running consistently since March 2020 and have been vital in helping us keep an accurate finger on the pulse of COVID-19 in our region.⁠
⁠
Researchers want to understand how people have coped before, after and whilst waiting for their COVID-19 results. To study this researchers from Federation University, Western District Health Service and South West Healthcare are collaborating to conduct the study, “Mental health at the COVID-19 frontline: An assessment of distress, anxiety and coping from attendees and staff at screening clinics”. ⁠
⁠
Principal researcher Susan Brumby said “To date over 5000 people have attended these two regional clinics and people may feel anxious about the results, worried about being sick or having symptoms and having to go home and isolate.” she said. “Findings from this study will assist us in developing new ways to support regional Victorians and healthcare workers and improve services during such a crisis”. ⁠
⁠
The study is voluntary. It uses a completely anonymous online survey that will not take more than 20 minutes to complete. People who are 18 years and older and attended either the Drive-through COVID-19 Clinic at Hamilton Base Hospital, WDHS, Hamilton OR, Respiratory Assessment Clinics South West Healthcare, Warrnambool will be contacted by SMS. ⁠

It will not take more than 20 minutes to complete and will be running until Feb 28, 2021.

The project has been approved by Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) at both South West Healthcare Human Research Ethics Committee (Ref: 2020 20) and Federation University Australia (Ref: B20-036). The research has been funded by Western Alliance Academic Health Science Centre and supported by Western District Health Service, South West Healthcare and Federation University.

Non-participation in this research will not impact any service at these healthcare settings.

If you have any questions regarding this study, please contact the Principal Researchers of this project:

Farmer Health eNews February 2021

Find out all the latest from the National Centre for Farmer Health

• Limited number of Commonwealth Supported Places available to study the Graduate Certificate of Agricultural Health and Medicine
• Agricultural Health & Safety for Victorian Secondary School students
• New Publication
• Wellness Wednesday

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A comparison of farming and non‐farming related suicides from the United States’ National Violent Deaths Reporting System, 2003–2016

Farmers are at higher risk of suicide than other occupations and the general population. The complex suicide risk factors have not been examined in a large, population‐wide study across a significant time period. This observational study draws on existing data from the United States’ National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), including 140,523 farming‐ or non‐farming‐related suicide decedents between 2003 and 2016 from across 40 states. “Farming‐related” decedents included 2,801 suicides. Farmers had higher odds of being male, older, less well‐educated, and American Indian/Alaska Native. Farmers had higher odds of using firearms and—when farmers used a gun—higher odds of using a long‐arm weapon. Farmers had lower odds of having a known mental health condition or job problem, and lower odds of having made a previous suicide attempt or leaving a suicide note. Findings highlight the complexity of suicide risk within the context of farming in the United States and reinforce the need for tailored prevention efforts; employing means restriction of firearms; and emphasizing that traditional risk factors may not be as common in the farming population.

Farmer Health eNews January 2021

Find out all the latest from the National Centre for Farmer Health

• Support to manage the holiday and ongoing farming activities season
• Get hands on in 2021! Study Agricultural Health & Medicine
• We need your help to spread the news about the Primary Producer Knowledge Network
• Wellness Wednesday

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