Farmer Health eNews September 2018
Find out all the latest from the National Centre for Farmer Health
- Run 4 Farmer Health – The coundown is on!
- HMF701 Scholarships are open
- Digital Storytelling Workshop
- Wellness Wednesday
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2018-08-22: National Centre for Farmer’s Health consultant Olivia Pronk talks with farmers at AgQuip – The Northern Daily Leader
Article: Madeline LInk, Photo: Peter Hardin
EVERY hour on the hour, registered nurse Olivia Pronk changes her topic.
Talking all things farmer’s health at AgQuip, The Leader met with the National Centre for Farmer’s Health consultant around 2pm, when her focus was emotional wellbeing.
“I’m just allowing them to talk, sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t,” she said.
“But it’s the ones that aren’t talking that are the real concern to me.”
If the family isn’t travelling well, the young people are feeling the burden Ms Pronk said.
… it’s the ones that aren’t talking that are the real concern to me.
Olivia Pronk
“I’ve made a point of telling them where to get help if they need to, giving them ideas about how to walk away from it and take a break if they’re struggling.”
And, Ms Pronk isn’t just talking to those that are suffering – she’s speaking with family members that aren’t sure how to approach a conversation with a loved one they’re concerned about.
With a session in The Seminar Room, an AgQuip first for not-for-profit organisations, a lot of farmers are finding it easier to talk with health care professionals one-on-one, Ms Pronk said.
“It’s pretty personal, and it’s not always easy to get up in front of a group of people and say you’re struggling with your problems,” she said.
“Whereas if you get them one-on-one it’s easier for them to talk.”
On Wednesday, she spoke with at least 100 people about anything from respiratory issues on the farm to needlestick injuries during vaccinations.
One of the biggest conversation topics was lung problems as a result of airborne chemicals.
“I’ve spoken a lot about lung problems and respiratory issues, when people work with chemicals they wear a dust mask and think that will protect them as far as airborne chemicals, it won’t,” Ms Pronk said.
“The other thing is vaccination injuries, we’re talking about being aware of the product that’s in the vaccine.
“The vaccine is safe for people but it’s whether the carrier is water or oil, if it’s oil they need to get proper medical help.”
The National Centre for Farmer’s Health is visiting field days across Australia speak about health issues.
What Happens to the Farm? Australian Farmers’ Experiences after a Serious Farm Injury
To investigate the experiences of farmers on returning to farming following a serious farm-related injury.
Cholinesterase research outreach project (CROP): point of care cholinesterase measurement in an Australian agricultural community
Australian farmers are routinely exposed to a wide variety of agrichemicals, including herbicides and insecticides. Organophosphate (OP) insecticides are widely used for agricultural production, horticulture and animal husbandry practices. Symptoms of OP toxicity are the results of inhibition of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) which is found in many types of conducting tissue in human bodies such as nerve and muscle, central and peripheral tissues, motor and sensory fibres. Cholinesterase can be measured in red blood cells/erythrocytes (AChE) and plasma (PChE). This study aims to explore integration of AChE monitoring into routine health checks for those at risk and also to examine any association between AChE activity and agrichemical use in a Victorian farming community in Australia.
Online assessment of suicide stigma, literacy and effect in Australia’s rural farming community
In Australia, farming populations have been identified as having higher rates of suicide, in comparison to metropolitan, rural and regional communities. The reasons for this are unclear although stigma is considered a risk factor. This study was designed to understand the role of suicide stigma and suicide literacy and the relationship
between these.
2018-08-16: Health checks bring in farmers – Eyre Peninsula Tribune
Eddie Hughes gets his health check from Tam Phillips.
Article by: Kathrine Catanzariti
Farmers at the Eyre Peninsula Field Days are making the most of the free health checks available.
National Centre of Farmer Health, along with Rural Bank, have been at the event providing the checks for farmers to make sure they keep an eye on their health.
“It’s a great way for farmers to get access to health and have a social day out,” Ms Phillips said.
“Farmers, men and women, don’t prioritise themselves as their number one farming asset.”
Member for Giles Eddie Hughes had his own health checked while visiting the Eyre Peninsula Field Days on Thursday.
“It’s important for everyone to get checked, the reward can be significant,” he said.
The National Centre for Farmer Health is located at site 185, and checks only take 20 minutes.
Read more: 2018-08-16: Health checks bring in farmers – Eyre Peninsula Tribune
2018-8-10: A healthy farming family means a healthly farming business – The Weekly Times
That’s the key message of the Sustainable Farm Families course run by the National Centre for Farmer Health and Agriculture Victoria.
A group of farming families recently participated in the course at Horsham’s Grains Innovation Park, thanks to the Wimmera Farming Network.
National Centre for Farmer Health research fellow Alison Kennedy said the award-winning program helped not only the farmer, but the farming business.
“The program covers a wide range of topics that are a real part of the lives of farming families, everything from physical and mental health, health education, and a health assessment,” Dr Kennedy said.
“And because the programs are run across a number of workshops, people can track their health over time, and set personal goals around their personal health.
If you are a farmer or other agricultural worker and are interested in participating in a Sustainable Farm Families program, contact Tracey Hatherell at tracey.hatherell.wdhs.net or phone (03) 5551 8588.
Read more: 2018-8-10: A healthy farming family means a healthly farming business – The Weekly Times
2018-8-1: Press Release – 2018 Conference Keynote Speaker Announced
International expert to build local knowledge about agrichemical exposure on our farming families
The National Centre for Farmer Health is excited to announce internationally renowned Occupational and Environmental Health specialist Associate Professor Diane Rohlman as a keynote speaker at their Conference in September.
As one of the world’s most hazardous industries, there are many risks associated with working in agriculture, including the risk of injury and exposure to agrichemicals. Pesticides, particularly organophosphorus pesticides (OPs), are widely used throughout the world. However, research examining the effects of exposure to these agrichemicals has tended to focus on acute effects in adults. There has been limited research looking at the impact of repeated, low-level exposure to agrichemicals, particularly in children and adolescents. Dr Rohlman describes her research as “examining the impact of low-level occupational exposure to organophosphorus pesticides in adult and adolescent farmworkers”.
Associate Prof. Rohlman’s research has also extended to examine environmental pesticide exposure among children living in agricultural communities. Since many chemicals, particularly OPs, can attack the brain and nervous system, her research has focused on early detection of changes in memory, attention and learning.
Dr Susan Brumby—Director of the National Centre for Farmer Health—is excited by the prospect of Dr Rohlman’s involvement in the NCFH Conference, with the theme ‘Good health, wellbeing and safety: Making a difference to farmers’ lives’: “Dr Rohlman has been conducting very topical research that will be of significant interest to both health professionals and farmers across Australia. We’re thrilled to host this expert from The University of Iowa, where they have the only Agricultural Safety and Health program in the United States. It was this cutting-edge training program that inspired the development of our own Graduate Certificate in Agricultural Health and Medicine.”
Dr Rohlman will be presenting at the National Centre for Farmer Health Conference on Wednesday 12 September in Hamilton, Victoria. Farmers, health professionals, researchers and others working in areas with links to agriculture and health are encouraged to attend the Conference. Registration to attend the conference is free and can be made online via the Farmer Health website: https://farmerhealth.org.au/conferences/conference-2018. Registrations close on Friday 17 August.
Media contact: Images relevant to this article are available on request from the National Centre for Farmer Health via Cecilia Fitzgerald (03) 5551 8533 or cecilia.fitzgerald@wdhs.net
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED – READ MORE
VIEW CONFERENCE PAGE
REGISTER FOR CONFERENCE NOW – Registrations close 17|8|18
Farmer Health eNews August 2018
Find out all the latest from the National Centre for Farmer Health
- 2018 Conference Keynote Speakers Announced
- Digital Storytelling Workshop
- Out & about with NCFH
- Wellness Wednesday
Do you want to receive our eNews?
2018-7-28: Mental Health Crusader – The Hamilton Spectator
2018-07-24: NCFH $4M Promise – The Hamilton Spectator
2018-07-19: Farmer health is about growing awareness – Health Direct
If you are one of the 300,000 Australians who earn their living from the land, you’ll know how difficult and uncertain farming can be.
There are health and safety issues, such as working long hours in the sun, or with animals, chemicals and farm machinery. And a drought or severe flooding can affect a farming community for years, including the mental health of its families.
This year’s National farm Safety Week (16 – 22 July) aims to raise awareness of the health issues that face the farmers who put food on Australian tables.
Mental health and stress
A tough, sometimes isolated life — and often financial insecurity — can challenge the mental health of farmers. And as well as the stress and uncertainty of farming, it can be difficult to find the same mental health resources in rural and remote areas that you would expect to find in towns and cities. Recognising when help and support are needed, either for yourself or for someone else, is very important.
- Find out about rural and remote mental health services.
- Read the National Centre for Farmer Health’s tips on coping with stress as a farmer.
Kids’ safety on farms
Growing up on a farm can be a great start to a child’s life, but it also has its hazards. Each year in Australia, around 5 or 6 children drown in farm dams and water bodies, including creeks, troughs and irrigation channels. Frequently this occurs when a toddler wanders away from supervision without being noticed. Kids in farming communities — and their visitors — often play where farmers work and without a safe play area, they risk dangers from farm machinery, motorcycles, horses and other farm animals.
- Visit Farmsafe Australia’s resources to help keep kids safe on farms.
- Learn more about rural child safety.
Injuries and accidents
Almost 22,000 people were hospitalised after being injured on farms between 2010 and 2015. Just getting around the farm can be dangerous, and riding motorcycles and quad bikes is a particularly risky part of farm life. Injuries involving motorcycles and quad bikes accounted for 42% of hospitalisations in children up to 14 years old. Quad bikes are not stable vehicles and are not safe for use in all terrains, says the National Centre for Farmer Health. Users should always wear a helmet and protective clothing, and children should never be allowed near quad bikes.
Lung conditions and respiratory diseases
Farmers and farm families are more likely to be exposed to dusts from pollens, animal dander, grain and hay, which can irritate airways and trigger asthma in susceptible people. Organic dust toxic syndrome (‘farmer’s fever’) is common and is caused by inhaling mouldy dust. ‘Farmer’s lung’ affects people whose immune system is sensitive to fungal spores inhaled from mouldy hay, straw, grain or compost. Farmers who experience flu-like symptoms should always tell their doctor if they have been exposed to dust.
- Learn about other health conditions that often affect farmers.
Getting medical help in a rural environment
Farming communities often find that living in a remote location means accessing health services is challenging. Having a contact list of health and emergency services is important. Phone and online support can also be helpful. When searching on the internet for health services, it is important to use reputable sources, such as healthdirect’s service finder. You can also call healthdirect’s free 24-hour helpline on 1800 022 222 for health advice and non-urgent assistance.
- Learn more about rural and remote health.
- Find out about rural health services in your state.
Read more: Visit the Healthdirect website