2014-05-03 Libby Harricks Oration 2014
Following the 2014 Libby Harricks Memorial Oration, Brisbane and the National Deafness Sector Summit and XXXII World Audiology Congress. From left
Lyndal Carter, Research Audiologist National Acoustics Laboratory;
Emma Scanlon, PRINCIPAL AUDIOLOGIST CSO ADULTS, Australian Hearing;
Dr. Susan Brumby, Director National Centre for Farmer Health and 2014 Orator.
Dr. Jenny Rosen OA, Chair Libby Harricks Oration Committee;
Dr. Warwick Williams, Senior Research Engineer, National Acoustics Laboratory
David Brady, Chief Executive Officer at Hear For You, President at Deaf Advocacy Sport and Recreation ACT, Chairperson at Deafness Forum of Australia.
2014-05-03 Ramsay backs calls for farmer health centre funding – The Standard
2014-05-03 Ramsay backs calls for farmer health centre funding (Source: The Standard)
2013-06-22 Disbelief at centre closure – Hamilton Spectator
2013-06-22 Disbelief at centre closure-Hamilton Spectator [PDF 532mb]
2014-05-01 Farmer Health on the Agenda – Hamilton Spectator
2014-05-01Farmer Health on the Agenda – Hamilton Spectator [PDF 58kb]
2014-04-29 Federal Government urged to support the National Centre for Farmer Health – Simon Ramsay
Federal Government urged to support the National Centre for Farmer Health in Hamilton [PDF 94kb]
State Member for Western Victoria Simon Ramsay has called on the Abbott Federal Government to provide funding in the May Budget for Hamilton’s National Centre for Farmer Health.
Mr Ramsay is a strong advocate for the ongoing funding through the Western District Health Service for the Centre to continue its work in working with farming families.
“The centre works specifically to improve the quality of life for Australia’s farming community, in response to a disturbing trend of poor physical and mental health in that demographic of the community,” Mr Ramsay said. Mr Ramsay has been a long-time supporter of the centre, especially in his former role as the President of the Victorian Farmers Federation.
“In my previous life representing the farming community, I was well aware of the work of the National Centre of Farmer Health in the sustainable farming family project.
“This was active during one of the worst droughts Australia has seen. It was critical in reducing the impact of high rates of depression and suicides in our farming communities,” Mr Ramsay said. “Poor farmer health and incidence of disease is high in the farming communities and the nature of their work requires specific research and programs to respond to this disturbing trend”.
The Centre has been operating since November 2008 as a partnership between the Western District Health Service and Deakin University.
It works to support farmers by researching and advising of farms safety matters, with an emphasis on health and mental health for the farm sector that traditionally has not been proactive on this front. The work also creates a broader awareness for farm-related industries and associates. Mr Ramsay congratulated the Handbury family for providing the seed funding for the Centre and the Napthine Government for allocating $250,000 in its Health budget to complement a national approach.
“I now call on the Abbott Government to provide a similar commitment that will truly provide a National approach to a national problem,” Mr Ramsay said.
2014-03-05 No support for National Centre for Farmer Health in droughts $10.7m social services funding – The Weekly Times
No support for National Centre for Farmer Health in droughts $10.7m social services funding (Source: The Weekly Times)
2014-04-09 Rural groups want roads and rail announcements in Victorian Budget
Rural groups want roads and rail announcements in Victorian Budget (Source: The Weekly Times)
2014-04-24 National Centre for Farmer Health pleads for Budget funding
National Centre for Farmer Health pleads for Budget funding (Source: The Weekly Times)
Libby Harricks Memorial Oration
The 2014 Libby Harricks Memorial Oration will be delivered by Clinical Associate Professor Susan Brumby at 4pm Saturday 3 May at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, part of the 8th National Deafness Sector Summit.
In 2014 the Libby Harricks Memorial Oration is sponsored by Cochlear Ltd and Australian Hearing.
Libby Harricks Memorial Oration
2014-03-29 Workshops provide valuable information for farmers – Hamilton Spectator
2014-03-29 Workshops provide valuable information for farmers – Hamilton Spectator
Women Towards Sustainability E-Leaders Program
The National Rural Women’s Coalition is currently calling for applications from women who are working as primary producers or working in the area of sustainability who want to improve their natural resource management skills and knowledge.
If you are keen to connect with other rural women around Australia and bring your chosen on-ground project to life……………….apply today. The industry’s best will present a free series of webinars as part of the e-leaders program.
Applications close 4th April 2014 at 4 pm, AEST.
Apply online for this FREE webinar program.
www.nrwc.com.au
2013-11-14 Victorian Farmers Federation supports National Centre for Farmer Health
The partnership between the National Centre for Farmer Health (NCFH) and the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF), Victoria’s peak farmer lobby group, builds upon their strong history together in Victoria in delivering the Sustainable Farm families program to farming families.
Recently the Chief Executive Officer of Western District Health Service, Jim Fletcher, Board member Hugh Macdonald, acting Director NCFH Cate Mercer- Grant , President of the VFF, Peter Tuohey, Policy Manger Darryl Harrison and Federal Member for Wannon Dan Tehan met to discuss the ongoing importance of farmer health, wellbeing and safety and the subsequent impact of ignoring these important factors on a farm business and in particular its productivity and viability .
Jim Fletcher said “the meeting consolidated a vital industry-agency partnership, with the VFF partnering with us in the delivery of over 40% of our Sustainable Farm Families programs across Victoria. An important element of this partnership is ensuring that health, wellbeing and safety of farming families and thereby productivity and sustainability of the farm business in Victoria remains on both industry and government policy agendas.”
“The centre has played a key role in helping farming families realise that maintaining their health and safety was a vital part of running a profitable business. The centre has helped farmers realise that if they don’t manage their health then they could end up being unable to manage the farm. It’s a tragedy that this Centre is battling to survive, at a time when farming families need all the support they can get in the face of cuts to traditional regional health services. ” VFF president Peter Tuohey said.
Jim Fletcher also reported to the group that the ‘National Centre for Farmer Health continues to liaise with the Victorian Coalition Government and have received a response from the Premier, Denis Napthine advising that he has requested the Victorian Minister For Health to reopen discussions with the new Federal coalition government members. He also reported that he is heartened by recent correspondence from Jaala Pulford, MP Member for Western Victoria, Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Regional and Rural Development and Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Agriculture commending the NCFH on the outstanding work it has undertaken and reiterating the Labor Party’s position as stated in Hansard that restoring funding to the NCFH makes good economic sense, as well as health sense.
Mr. Fletcher said ‘The support from Dan Tehan, Member for Wannon in attending the VFF meeting has also been positive, assisting us with paving the way for future discussions with the National Farmers Federation , the Assistant Minister for Health Senator Fiona Nash and other Federal Members.”
The National Centre for Farmer Health continues to lobby the Victorian and Federal Governments to survive and continue its proven and essential services to improve the health, wellbeing and safety of Farm families and workers; thereby contributing to productivity and sustainability of the farm business.
Media Contacts:
Jim Fletcher, Chief Executive Officer – (03) 5551 8215
Tom Whitty, VFF Public Affairs Advisor – 0466 466 035