Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System – Visit to the National Centre for Farmer Health

The Chair Penny Armitage, Commissioner Professor Allan Fels AO and two commission (DHHS) staff Maria and Adam visited the NCFH on Friday 12 April 2019. The meeting went very well and we were ably supported by three farmer consumers who spoke freely about their lived experience of poor mental health, access to support and suicide.  A strong representation of staff also assisted. The Commission was clearly interested in our reach and a presentation of our work, how we got to be here, and our reach. It was wonderful to report that a team of 3 NCFH agri professionals were currently undertaking farmer health assessments (which all involve a psychosocial screening) in Gippsland for the following 3 days where farmers are currently experiencing drought.

Key things raised

The Commission was very interested in our service/ research/ advocacy/ reputation and reach approach. Of particular interest and issues raised were:

  1. NCFH AgSPACE project (Agricultural Suicide Prevention through Analysis of Coronial Evidence), in partnership with the Victorian Coroner’s Office, looking at coroner’s data, suicides, role of place, access and regional differences.
  2. AgriSafe™ model as a method of engagement for early detection and prevention.
  3. The challenge of only 10 mental health visits when you are in crisis, through the GP Mental Health Plan funding.
  4. Difficulty and lack of incentive for psychologists due to cost of service delivery in rural locations like Warracknabeal, Coleraine etc, even when supported by PHN.
  5. Interest in farmer health digital stories, (these were also raised at the Commission’s Hamilton community gathering).
  6. Admitted acute mental services and what would be suitable for farmers in distress or needing acute admission.
  7. Role of peer-to-peer support.
  8. NCFH Health and Lifestyle assessments at agricultural events/field days and the psychosocial screening which is seen as ‘just part of any health, wellbeing and safety’ engagement with farmers and agricultural workers.
  9. Our ability to engage well with both men and women.
  10. The positive and negative role of social media.

Next steps

The Commission is using these preliminary meetings to form the basis of the actual hearings and will be calling for written submissions and attendances at hearings. Dr Alison Kennedy has since been invited to act as a witness attending the public hearings.

Visit the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System website

Make a submission to the Royal Commission—Submissions are open until 5 July 2019

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2019-04-23: Drought advice at field days – East Gippsland Field Days

Metalcorp Tick of Approval

Metalcorp and the National Centre for Farmer Health have continued their partnership in 2019, helping to make a difference to farmer’s lives.

Metalcorp’s corporate support of the NCFH provides vital funding to aid research and support ongoing activities to improve farmer health.

Recently, Metalcorp’s livestock handling equipment has received a safe farming tick of approval by the National Centre for Farmer Health.

A review by the National Centre For Farmer Health found that Metalcorp’s CLASSIC PLUS® Crush, CATTLEMASTER® Crush and the HOBBYMASTER® Vet Crush were considered to be a superior safety option for farmers.

The assessments were conducted by Livestock Veterinarian Dr David Rendell, Occupational Therapist Andrew Cross and NCFH Director Dr Susan Brumby to ensure Metalcorp’s Cattle Crushes enable cattle and humans to work together as safely and efficiently as possible.

Cattle Crushes play a vital role for farmers to carry out a variety of jobs on the animal, including vaccinating, dehorning, castrating, pregnancy testing, tagging, veterinarian treatment and much more.

With these important jobs to be carried out, the report revealed that Metalcorp’s Cattle Crushes meet manual handling demands and gates and locking mechanisms were considered reasonable, easy to use and well designed.

The report also revealed that because Metalcorp’s Cattle Crushes are designed with rectangular steel sections, this prevents the handler putting an arm in the cattle crush area and is viewed as a significant improvement from cattle crushes designed with round pipe sections.

Metalcorp’s Cattle Crushes effectively restrain the typical range of cattle in Australia, enabling important procedures to be carried out.

READ MORE: DOWNLOAD TICK OF APPROVAL FACT SHEET – HERE

2019-04-08: Gear Up for Ag Program at Billabong High School – School Newsletter

On Thursday, 4 April, the junior elective Agricultural class and the Year 11 Primary Industries class spent 3 hours learning all about health and safety issues and management of these issues facing people working (and sometimes living) in this industry. The National Centre for Farmers Health delivered the very informative, encouraging and interactive workshop. A big thank you to the Rural Bank and Henty Community Bank for sponsorship of the program. Each student went home with a full kit of PPE they can use when working in the agricultural industry now or in the future.

2019-04-06: Hit event at South West TAFE – Hamilton Spectator

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2019-03-01: It Takes a Village Heather Fleming Digital Story – Graziher Magazine Autumn Issue

View Graziher Magazine

2019-03-15: Dubbo farmers turn out for free health checks at Metalcorp – Dubbo Daily Liberal

PHOTO: TESTS: Tony Fenwick, Kylie Tolmie and Morna Semmens come together at Metalcorp Dubbo which partnered with the National Centre for Farmer Health to offer free health checks for farmers on Friday. Photo: BELINDA SOOLE

North American bison farmer Kylie Tolmie reckoned she was “fit as a bull” when she turned up to Metalcorp Dubbo for a free health check on Friday.

About 2pm Mrs Tolmie’s husband nudged her towards a back room of the business in Jannali Road where  22 farmers had gone before her.

Mrs Tolmie was met by National Centre for Farmer Health clinician Morna Semmens who had been expecting 16 farmers or agricultural workers to visit between noon and 4pm.

She welcomed the flood of drought-affected farmers for tests including blood pressure and cholesterol with “almost all of them”  told to go and see their GP based on the results.

Metalcorp Steel’s NSW rural manager Tony Fenwick said farmers tended to “bottle up” their health concerns but they had been “opening up because these guys know what questions to ask”.

“This has been a good way to give back to the community that has helped us through tough times,” he said.

View article: 2019-03-15: Dubbo farmers turn out for free health checks at Metalcorp – Dubbo Daily Liberal

2019-03-10: Metalcorp Dubbo hosting free farmer health checks on March 15 – Dubbo Daily Liberal

CHECK-UP: Tony Fenwick (centre) and his staff (from left) Adam Morton, Justin Whitney, Jason Hill and Steve Tolmie are keen to see farmers take advantage of the free health checks. Photo: Contributed

Dubbo farmers are being encouraged to take a break from the demands of the drought and do something about their health.

They are being offered free health checks on Friday, March 15, that could prove “life-saving”.

The Metalcorp Dubbo branch is working with the National Centre for Farmer Health to offer the service.

The 20-minute health checks conducted by agrihealth professionals will be held in private rooms at the newly-relocated branch at 2 Jannali Road between 12pm and 4pm.

Rural landholders and workers are being offered vision, BMI, blood cholesterol and blood pressure tests along with diabetes-risk assessments.

Metalcorp Dubbo branch manager Tony Fenwick said its partnership with the National Centre for Farmer Health “closely aligns with our commitment to the safety, health and well-being of our staff and customers”.

“Your health is the greatest investment you can make in your farming business and we hope these free health checks encourage the Dubbo rural community to visit our branch, taking half an hour out of their day to have their health assessed – it might be life-saving action,” he said.

“Your health is the greatest investment you can make in your farming business and we hope these free health checks encourage the Dubbo rural community to visit our branch, taking half an hour out of their day to have their health assessed – it might be life-saving action.”

Tony Fenwick

A spokesman for the National Centre for Farmer Health agreed with Mr Fenwick.

“The health checks can identify serious health problems that, if left unidentified, could place farmers at significant risk,” he said.

“It also provides a risk assessment around farm safety and education on how to improve general health and well-being.

“Providing participants with a health passport containing the results of their health check provides farmers with information to take action of their own or pass on to a health professional for follow-up support.”

There are 16 appointments available. To make an appointment send an email to salesdubbo@metalcorp.com.au.

View full article: 2019-03-10: Metalcorp Dubbo hosting free farmer health checks on March 15 – Dubbo Daily Liberal

2019-03-02: NCFH unique course offering – Hamilton Spectator

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