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
Farmer Health eNews March 2019
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- Wimmera Field Days – Agriculture Victoria Site
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2019-02-21: New look Ag Vic stand at Wimmera Machinery Field Days – Department of Ag
Horsham’s Agriculture Victoria team has a new home at this year’s Wimmera Machinery Field Days, joining other local agribusinesses and services in the Field Days Agri Marquee.
Situated just inside the door of the marquee, visitors can come and talk to staff about the latest grains research, plant diseases, animal health, managing dry conditions, the Australian Grains Genebank, how to apply for a Property Identification Code (PIC) and much more.
Grains Innovation Park Site Leader and Agriculture Victoria Research Director, Traci Griffin, said the Wimmera Machinery Field Days provide a great opportunity for Agriculture Victoria to showcase the latest research and new technologies that are relevant to the Wimmera.
“The field days also provide an important opportunity for farmers to talk directly to Agriculture Victoria staff to gain a better understanding of what is happening and how it could apply to this season.”
Agriculture Victoria’s Dry Seasonal Conditions Coordinator for the north west, Rob O’Shannessy, will be on hand with information about support and assistance for farmers navigating dry conditions.
Mr O’Shannessy will be joined by agrihealth professionals from the National Centre for Farmer Health who will conduct free farmer health checks.
Taking just 20 minutes, the farmer health assessments include a lifestyle survey covering health behaviours, farm practices and social and emotional wellbeing. Participants will also have their cholesterol, blood glucose, blood pressure, BMI and diabetes risk measured, and their eyesight tested. They can also discuss cholinesterase testing.
There will be information about workshops coming up in the region addressing stubble management, soils, weed control and other issues, and copies available of the ‘hot-off-the-press’ 2019 cereal and pulse disease guides.
Staff from the Australian Grains Genebank in Horsham will bring the Genebank to life, revealing what goes on inside and presenting some of the genetic material stored there – even some of the ‘wild relatives’ researchers are looking to in a bid to improve diversity in crop varieties.
Adding to the display will be some of the high-tech equipment, such as drones and infra-red sensors, that are being used by Agriculture Victoria researchers to ensure new varieties and farming practices can be adopted by farmers faster.
Farmer Health eNews February 2019
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- Wellness Wednesday
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2019-01-23: Western Victorian study into kidney disease – Warrnambool Standard
Kidney disease is becoming an issue in rural communities in Victoria and globally but no one is really sure why.
Professor Karen Dwyer, a nephrologist and investigator, said 10 per cent of Victorians had chronic kidney disease with a higher rate, 13.5 per cent, in rural Victoria.
It is doing a study to determine the prevalence of chronic kidney disease in rural communities in western Victoria and to identify traditional and novel risk factors.
Many people can be unaware they have chronic kidney disease because 90 per cent of kidney function can be lost without experiencing any symptoms.
Screening for chronic kidney disease is simple.
A blood and urine sample can ascertain the presence and stage of chronic kidney disease.
The National Centre for Farmer Health is recalling people who have completed a Health and Lifestyle Assessment with the centre at an agricultural field day or other event, are aged between 18 and 75 years and have at least one traditional risk factor for kidney disease.
The risk factors include being over the age of 60, having high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, smoking, heart problems or stroke, family history of kidney disease, history of acute kidney injury and being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.
Participating in the study is a once-off.
It involves coming into a clinic at Hamilton, Warrnambool or Horsham and completing a brief health assessment and providing a blood and urine sample for pathology analysis, and a conversation with a doctor.
It will also require filling out a questionnaire. Participants’ results will be sent to them and participation is free.
Participants from the study can benefit from identifying the presence of chronic kidney disease early, improve their understanding and awareness of their own health and contribute to research of chronic kidney disease in rural communities.
If participants have chronic kidney disease, they can be referred to an appropriate health professional.
People interested in participating should contact research assistant Jessie Adams at the National Centre for Farmer Health, email: jessie.adams@wdhs.net or phone 5551 8508. Places are limited.
Farmer Health eNews April 2019
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2019-01-02: Victorian Young Farmers experiences resurgence after slump – The Weekly Times
by: SARAH HUDSON, The Weekly Times
WHEN the Victorian Young Farmers group was established in 1947 it was, for many years, largely a social club — a chance to catch up with mates and chew the fat.
So popular did VYF become among its membership of largely 20-somethings that at its peak in the 1970s there were 140 clubs around the state and 6000 members.
But then it hit the skids and by 2004 there were just four clubs with 100 members.
“It was before my time so I can’t say exactly how it shrank,” says 29-year-old VYF president Nikki Georgiou.
“Probably it was a mix of competing interests, farmers were time poor, or facing tough times in the drought.”
It’s a sliding trend Nikki and her immediate predecessors have been determined to reverse, with a quiet revolution currently afoot among young farmers.
Nikki, who has been a member of the Clunes and District Young Farmers group for seven years, says the VYF is determined to rejuvenate the organisation for a new generation.
The recruitment drive appears to be paying off with 11 clubs now around the state and membership numbers at 250 and growing.
“We have introduced some considerable changes.
“For instance every year there would be a gala dinner, but when I took over we instead introduced a more family-friendly event,” says the mother of one.
VYF has recently partnered with the National Centre for Farmer Health in Hamilton, sharing knowledge and events to highlight broad farmer wellbeing, including mental health.
Read the full article: 2019-01-02: Victorian Young Farmers experiences resurgence after slump – The Weekly Times
Farmer Health eNews January 2019
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- Fatigue
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- Agricultural Health & Medicine HMF701 – Enrol Now
- Wellness Wednesday
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Farmer Health eNews December 2018
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- Enrolments now OPEN for HMF701
- Give a Safe Gift this Christmas—Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Keep visitors safe on the farm these holidays
- Wellness Wednesday
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Farmer Health eNews November 2018
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- Farm Safety – Harvest Health
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- Final chance for HMF701 Scholarships
- Wellness Wednesday
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2018-10-24: Mental health, business planning and cost of living pressures target of new $25m drought-help package – Bendigo Advertiser
Farming communities in northern Victoria will be given support to prepare for drought as part of a new $25 million drought preparadeness and support package.
Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford announced the new package – which features targeted support for mental health, small business planning and support for parents in farming communities to manage cost of living pressures – in Wedderburn on Wednesday.
This includes more than $2 million for mental health and wellbeing services, with $180,000 of this funding dedicated to the National Centre for Farmer Health to deliver health checks to farmers.
Read full article here: 2018-10-24: Mental health, business planning and cost of living pressures target of new $25m drought-help package – Bendigo Advertiser