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.

With dry conditions and extremely low rainfall already causing difficult conditions, farmers in the north of the State can now apply for help through a drought infrastructure grant program.

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

2018.10.12: The Harcourts Foundation’s latest funding round sees over $65,000 donated to nine charities – Elite Agent

By Jana Juaniza

The Harcourts Foundation, the charitable arm of Harcourts Group Australia, announced grants to nine Australian charities during its most recent quarterly funding round. A total of $66,268 was donated across Australia to benefit charities serving the communities where Harcourts employees live and work.

“Over the past six months, a total of $100,128 has been granted by The Harcourts Foundation,” said Julia Eyles, The Harcourts Foundation Coordinator.

“This quarter’s group of charities represents a cross-section of causes supported by Harcourts franchisees and team members.”

Charities selected by The Harcourts Foundation (region) and grant amount:

The National Centre for Farmer Health is a partnership between Western District Health Service and Deakin University. Based in Hamilton, Victoria, the Centre provides national leadership to improve the health, well-being and safety of farm men and women, farm workers, their families and communities across Australia by increasing knowledge across the farmers, rural professionals, academics and students. This grant will fund the cost of the marquee where participants of the “Run 4 Farmer Health” team at the Medibank Melbourne Marathon Festival 2018 gather post-event. Pictured is the team, including staff, families, friends, supporters, farmers, agricultural workers and health professionals.

Harcourts franchise owners in each state nominate and support the organisations that impact the community. Additionally, Harcourts corporate team members who salary sacrifice to the Foundation are given the chance to nominate a specific charity for a grant as part of an initiative called ‘corporate choice grants’, while the Landmark Harcourts network also designates grant recipients.

Since The Harcourts Foundation’s first donation in 2008, over $5 million has been raised. That translates to 686 charities supported, 311 communities impacted, and 851 grants made through Harcourts offices in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and the USA.

Read full article: 2018.10.12: The Harcourts Foundation’s latest funding round sees over $65,000 donated to nine charities – Elite Agent

Bright Futures: Young people in rural and regional Victoria – Vic Health

As presented at the National Centre for Farmer Health 2018 Conference, these are the findings from conversations with young people living in rural and regional areas in Victoria to understand their views on the five megatrends that are predicted to impact the health and wellbeing of young Victorians over the next 20 years.

Bright Futures: Young people in rural and regional Victoria – VIEW REPORT

Bright Futures: Young people in rural and regional Victoria – VIEW DATA

This information is available so community organisations and groups can generate new funds and projects.

2018.10.09: Glyphosate concerns for gardeners as well as farmers – Warrnambool Standard

Sue Brumby, the director of the Hamilton-based National Centre for Farmer Health, said while farm workers were likely to be exposed more often to the weedicide, glyphosate was also in a lot of weedicides used n gardens.

In home gardens, there was a higher chance of people and pets being exposed to the weedicide, she said.

Glyphosate is often sold under the Roundup brand name. Health concerns were sparked after a Californian jury awarded $US289 million to a man who said he got terminal cancer from the weedkiller made by Monsanto.

“The message is regardless of what use it is put to, always protect yourself appropriately,” Dr Brumby said.

She has backed a call by Cancer Council Australia for an independent review of the latest data about the health risks of glyphosate because of cancer concerns.

Warrnambool Community Garden deputy convenor Geoff Rollinson said the garden did not use any synthetic chemicals such as glyphosate.

It used other forms of weed control such as a mixture of pine oil and vinegar, steaming, and solarisation that covers earth with plastic to kill off weed seeds.

Mr Rollinson, who is also the Heytesbury District Landcare coordinator, said glyphosate was used by farmers in many Landcare projects and by chemical contractors because alternative chemicals were a lot more expensive.

A Warrnambool City Council spokesman said it currently used glyphosate because the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority said it could be used safely according to label directions.

Read Story: 2018.10.09: Glyphosate concerns for gardeners as well as farmers – Warrnambool Standard

Farmer Health eNews October 2018

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

Farmer Needlestick Injuries – Risk & recommended treatment
HMF701 Graduates making a difference
Run 4 Farmer Health – We want you in our team!
NCFH 2018 Conference wrap-up
Wellness Wednesday

View the October 2018 eNews

Read past issues of eNews

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GMHBA – supporting the mental health of our farmers

GMHBA is proud to partner with the National Centre for Farmer Health on some key initiatives designed to increase mental health awareness amongst young people in rural areas, who can often find it difficult to seek and source help.

2018-09-23: Helping break down barriers around mental health issues – Farming Focus, The Hamilton Spectator

2018-9-13: Lack of access taking toll on youth mental health, study shows – The Warrnambool Standard

Hamilton-based National Centre for Farmer Health teamed with VicHealth and CSIRO’s Data61 on the study, which found a lack of mental health services, transport, reliable internet, education and jobs were creating a mental well-being gap between young people in rural areas compared with their metropolitan counterparts.

The data showed that the rates of deaths from suicide and self-harm among young Victorians living in the bush has risen from 11 in 100,000 in 2012 to 13 in 100,000 in 2016. People in regional areas were also more likely to use alcohol, cannabis and methamphetamines than those in the city.

National Centre for Farmer Health director Susan Brumby said it was critical that young Victorians also had access to services to maintain and improve their mental well-being.

“It’s distressing to see that young people in our regions aren’t getting the support they need and this lack of opportunities and services is a cause of higher rates of suicide and self-harm,” she said.

“This report shows there are not enough mental health professionals in the bush – the majority of psychiatrists and psychologists are city-based.

“Other issues like stigma, perceived and actual lack of confidentiality and anonymity, and services failing to understand issues facing regional and rural Victorians are all barriers to young people getting the care and support they need and deserve.”

VicHealth chief executive officer Jerril Rechter said while access in rural areas was an issue, community links were often stronger.

“Young people in regional and rural communities have identified one of the things they like most about their community is how people come together during difficult times like drought or fires,” she said.

“The report shows being part of a community group, like a sports club has great benefits for the health and well-being of young people in regional and rural communities.”

CSIRO’s Data61 senior research consultant Claire Naughtin said the report highlighted the need to improve technology access in regional areas to give young people better access to services, education and employment opportunities.

“Young people need reliable access to the internet,” Dr Naughtin said.

If you or someone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

View article here: 2018-9-13: Lack of access taking toll on youth mental health, study shows – The Warrnambool Standard

2018-09-10: From Inside the Farm Gate – Jackie Elliott – Graziher Magazine Spring 2018