2015-05-26 Self-reliance stops people in the bush seeking help for their problems – ABC Rural
Health professionals believe a culture of dealing with tragedy in isolation remains an ongoing issue, the National Rural Health Conference in Darwin has been told.
They say everyone going through a crisis should be comfortable asking for help, but the self-reliance of many people in the bush is stopping them from seeking out that assistance.
Alison Kennedy, from the National Centre for Farmer Health, said being seen to be tough and able to deal with things alone is a real issue.
“The people I’ve been speaking to who have been bereaved by suicide and accidental death,” she said.
“They’re very good at giving help to other people but they’re not great at asking for help themselves, particularly when it comes to emotional issues.
Read the full article:
2015-05-26 Self-reliance stops people in the bush seeking help for their problems – ABC Rural
2015-04-29 National Farmer Health Centre to remain open with Victorian Government funding – ABC Rural
The new Victorian Government has reaffirmed a multi-million-dollar election promise to fund a farmer health centre.
The now Labor Government headed into last year’s election promising $4 million for the National Centre for Farmer Health, at Hamilton in western Victoria.
Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford, who represents the state’s west in the upper house, said next week’s budget would fully fund the commitment.
She said the centre would receive $1 million a year during the government’s first term.
Ms Pulford said the funds would ‘return [the centre] to its former glory’.
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2015-04-29 $4 million funds boost for Hamilton’s National Centre for Farmer Health – The Standard
JUBILATION and a few dance moves were on display yesterday with $4 million in state cash securing the future of the National Centre for Farmer Health.
The Hamilton centre, situated at the city’s public hospital, will gain $1 million annually for the next four years to continue its research following the pre-budget announcement.
State Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford delivered the news to staff and civic leaders at the morning ceremony, with centre director Susan Brumby performing an impromptu dance of joy in front of the crowd.
Ms Brumby said the centre had been in financial limbo for the past few years and the cash would help to retain jobs at the Western District Health Services site.
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2015-04-29 $4 million funds boost for Hamilton’s National Centre for Farmer Health – The Standard
2015-04-29 Dancing for joy – The Standard [PDF 7mb]
2015-04-28 Deakin University welcomes funding for National Centre for Farmer Health – Deakin University
DEAKIN UNIVERSITY MEDIA RELEASE
28 April 2015
Deakin University welcomes funding for National Centre for Farmer Health
Deakin University has welcomed today’s announcement by the Victorian State Government of $4million for the National Centre for Farmer Health.
“We are delighted to see the State Government fulfil its election promise by including the $4million funding for the Centre in the upcoming Victorian budget,” said Professor Brendan Crotty, Deakin’s Pro Vice-Chancellor (Health).
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2015-04-28 Deakin University welcomes funding for National Centre for Farmer Health – Deakin University
2015-04-28 Labor saves the National Centre for Farmer Health – The Hon Jaala Pulford
The Andrews Labor Government today guaranteed the future of the National Centre for Farmer Health, after the previous Coalition Government nearly destroyed the Centre by cutting critical funding and refusing to provide ongoing support.
Visiting the Centre in Hamilton today, Minister for Agriculture, Jaala Pulford, announced $4 million in funding in the upcoming 2015-16 Victorian Budget to secure the Centre’s future.
The funding fulfils a key election promise and will allow the Centre to rebuild after the Coalition’s cuts saw staff numbers slashed by 75 per cent leaving the Centre with only three full time positions.
Read the full media release:
2015-04-28 Labor saves the National Centre for Farmer Health – The Hon Jaala Pulford
2015-04-28 VFF welcome farmer health funding – Victorian Farmers Federation
VICTORIA’S peak farming body has today welcomed the Andrews Labor government’s commitment to save the National Centre for Farmer Health.
“The announcement today follows through with Labor’s election commitment to fund $4 million over four years. I congratulate Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford and Minister for Health Jill Hennessy in delivering on these,” Victorian Farmers Federation president Peter Tuohey said.
“This was one of our election demands and something the VFF campaigned tirelessly on last year. I commend the Labor government on ensuring the health and wellbeing of Victoria’s farmers is invested in”.
“We need to invest more than ever in the health and wellbeing of our farmers and regional communities, so this is great step in the right direction,” Mr Tuohey said.
The full article is no longer available.
2015-04-16 Half of Australia’s farm workers exposed to dangerous noise levels – National Rural Health Alliance
A study reported in the April 2015 issue of the Australian Journal of Rural Health (AJRH) has found that 51 per cent of the nation’s farm workers are regularly exposed to daily noise levels above the Australian Exposure Standard. Using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, it is estimated that around 163,000 Australian agricultural workers are affected.
Hearing loss affects approximately one in six people and with an ageing population this is projected to increase to one in four by 2050. Australian farmers are particularly at risk because of their long-term exposure to harmful noise levels from tractors, workshop tools, heavy machinery and firearms. A previous study found that, on average, the hearing-age profile for farmers was 10-15 years worse when compared with the general Australian population.
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2015-04-18: ‘Protecting yourself on-farm’ – Stock & Land
Protecting yourself on-farm
A SERIES of safety workshops will show farmers how to protect the most important asset on-farm – themselves.
The National Centre for Farmer Health has teamed up with Primary Producers SA, DairySA, Yorke Peninsula Alkaline Soils Group and Partners in Grain to hold the program in June.
AgriSafe clinician Tam Phillips said the workshops hoped to create long-term healthy habits and emphasise the importance of follow-up action.
“The emphasis is that the most important part of a healthy Australian farm is a healthy farming family,” she said.
“The health of the farmer is just as important as the health of the herd.”
Ms Phillips said the laborious routines in rural areas often pushed matters of health to the background.
“Farmers can have limited access to health services, especially in remote and rural communities,” she said.
“There are also time constraints – people not making the time to access services and not making it a top priority.”
The program incorporates three workshops through four days.
The first two-day workshop has a comprehensive health check that will look at glucose and cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and conduct eye checks, body mass measurements and respiratory tests.
[… more]To read the full article: 2015-04-18: ‘Protecting yourself on-farm’ – Stock & Land
2015-04-15 Improving farmer health and wellbeing – On The Land (The Standard)
The vision at National Centre for Farmer Health (NCFH) is to “make a difference to farmers’ lives”.
A key service in achieving this vision is through the delivery of health assessments and education programs.
Read the full article:
2015-04-15 Improving farmer health and wellbeing – On The Land (The Standard)
HMF702 scholarships 2015
SCHOLARSHIPS OPEN CLOSE MAY 8TH, 2015
HMF702 Healthy and Sustainable Agricultural Communities
13th July 2015 – 2nd October 2015
Scholarship Applications close May 22nd, 2015
PLEASE NOTE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE CLOSED
The National Centre for Farmer Health provides a limited number of scholarships to financially assist students to undertake further study in Agricultural Health and Medicine. If you work (or have aspirations to work) in agriculture, public health, health promotion, social work, policy, nursing and/or medicine in rural and remote areas then this unit will appeal to you.
Healthy and Sustainable Agricultural Communities (HMF702) is a postgraduate-level unit offered through Deakin University School of Medicine and is a core unit of the Graduate Certificate of Agricultural Health and Medicine (H522). Running from 13th July – 2nd October 2015, HMF702 can also be undertaken as a single professional development unit as, or an elective in a number of postgraduate courses. HMF702 is completed entirely online.
HMF702 looks closely at how living in a rural and remote community impacts on the determinants of health. The curriculum has been specifically developed to be relevant to health, policy, social work, medicine, veterinary and agricultural professionals working with or in rural or remote communities.
The scholarships are valued at $800.
Selection criteria
Preference will be given to applicants who are enrolled in the Graduate Certificate of Agricultural Health and Medicine (H522) for 2015 and/or 2015/16, do not have access to financial support from either their workplace or other funding agencies and are living or working in rural and remote areas, and those who work and live on farms.
How to apply
Scholarships open April 20, 2015. Fill in the form below ↓
Further information
For more information on this unit, the topics covered or on the application process, please contact the Course Chair
Clinical Associate Professor Susan Brumby
Course Chair
Email : susan.brumby@deakin.edu.au
Phone (03) 5551 8533
PO Box 283
Hamilton, Victoria, 3300
Or
Dr Vanessa Vaughan
Lecturer
Email: v.vaughan@deakin.edu.au
Phone (03) 5551 8585
Application form
Please note scholarships have now closed.
Our big thanks to Western District Ball Committee Anna Brown and Steph Lamont
Exciting times for the National Centre for Farmer Health with a very generous cheque being presented by members of the Western District Ball Committee Anna Brown and Stephanie Lamont to Director Susan Brumby and CEO of Western District Health Service, Rohan Fitzgerald.
The funds are being directed towards further education of rural workforces in agricultural health and medicine, services to farmers through AgriSafe clinics and the purchase of some items of equipment.
By all accounts the night was absolutely fantastic and plans are underway for a repeat.
WDHS CEO Rohan Fitzgerald, NCFH Director Susan Brumby and Western District Ball Committee members Anna Brown and Steph Lamont handing over fundraising cheque
AgriSafe Clinician Tam Phillips shows Anna Brown and Steph Lamont of the Western District Ball committee her work
Soup with leek & parsnips
Prep time: 15 mins
Cook time: 30 mins
Serves: 6
Ingredients:
1 large leek – sliced
3 parsnips – diced
1 large carrot – diced
2 zucchinis – diced
1 tbsp marjoram (chopped) *
1 bay leaf
3 cups salt reduced vegetable stock
420g can four bean mix
1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (to sprinkle on top)
2 tbsp olive oil
400g can of tomatoes**
Method:
1. Saute all vegetables in a frypan (except the parsley) for 5 minutes
2. Add the stock
3. Add the undrained can of beans
4. Cover and simmer for 20 mins
5. Sprinkle with parsley and serve with crusty bread
Photo by THOR. Images used in the Recipe files are for illustration purposes only.
