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
2013-09-06 Agricultural Health and Medicine 2014 ENROLMENTS NOW OPEN!
Agricultural Health and Medicine 2014
ENROLMENTS NOW OPEN!
Scholarships available
Cross – Sector collaboration CAN make a difference to farming communities.
Farm men, women, agricultural workers and their families are slowly gaining an awareness of their health, wellbeing and safety risks.
Be a part of the change!
“I was very excited to find a course that could combine my knowledge and skills from nursing and my interests in the agricultural industry, and provide me with a solid post graduate qualification.” Mathew Pigram, 2013 scholarship recipient Clinical nurse specialist, Alice Springs
The Graduate Certificate in Agricultural Health and Medicine H522 and is delivered at a postgraduate level through Deakin University, School of Medicine and aims to address the drought of agricultural health knowledge and improve service delivery and professional understanding for farming communities – your communities.
The core unit of Agricultural Health and Medicine HMF701 will be offered as a five-day intensive in Hamilton, Victoria on February 24th – 28th 2014.
The five-day intensive curriculum will ensure students increase their knowledge about agricultural medicine and co-morbidities, including respiratory health, common cancers and traumatic injuries, issues associated with mental health such as suicide and addiction, as well as external health hazards typical to the industry, such as pesticide and veterinary chemical use. Importantly, students will gain a greater understanding about what is needed for effective health provision in Australia’s agricultural industries.
By studying Agricultural Health and Medicine HMF701 (as a post graduate course or a single unit) you will become part of the next generation of agricultural and health leaders (nurses, doctors, veterinarians, farmers and agricultural professionals) who understand the value of multidisciplinary collaboration and can make a difference in rural communities. HMF701 is also the prerequisite for eligible health professionals wishing to become AgriSafe™ clinicians.
Scholarships are now available for HMF701 and are aimed to financially assist people who do not have access to financial support from either their workplace or other funding agencies. Applicants must be enrolled in the Graduate Certificate of Agricultural Health and Medicine H522 to be eligible for a scholarship. Scholarship applications close November 24th, 2013.
For further information on how to apply visit www.deakin.edu.au
For more information on Agricultural Health and Medicine and scholarships go to www.farmerhealth.org.au or contact Unit Chair,
Clinical Associate Professor
Susan Brumby on 03 5551 8533
2013-10-09 Free health checks at Warwick campdraft and rodeo
A unique partnership between the National Centre for Farmer Health, Queensland Rural Medical Education and Medicare Local – Darling Downs South West Queensland have initiated a novel program where they are giving free health checks to campdrafters, bull and bronco riders and rodeo enthusiasts at the Warwick Showground’s during the October 2013 Rodeo.
The team is encouraging all attendees to ‘Buck and draft out bad health’ with visits to our marquee. If you are connected with the campdraft and rodeo, we are there to help you. When heart rates start going up as chutes are opened, there might be more to it than just the excitement of the day.
The role of the team is to better educate those in the agricultural industry that being mentally and physically up to the task is as vital to their business as their success in the ring. It’s a busy time of the year for attendees and what a great way to start – with a check up!
There will be a team of health professionals and medical students from Griffith University at the Rodeo from Wednesday through until Friday to provide health checks and the opportunity for individual health assessments.
Scott Kitchener, Medical Director QRME, says the health checks will only take 5 – 10 minutes. That’s quicker than getting a cup of coffee and will cover all the key indicators of health – good or bad, he says. “That’s cholesterol, blood glucose, blood pressure and wellbeing. If there is trouble or even the slightest warning we will find it, and on site we will be able to refer you to a senior medical practitioner”
This unique team has an emphasis on preventative health and identifying strategies to agricultural workers to operate at full capacity and still be healthy and safe. The team who first formed to deliver health assessments at FarmFest 2012 is looking forward to catching up with you at Warwick.
Further information:
Cate Mercer-Grant, Acting Director – National Centre for Farmer Health
T: (03) 55518508
Scott Kitchener, Medical Director/Chief Executive Officer – Queensland Rural Medical Education
T: 07 46387999
2013-06-29 Helping farming families affected by a traumatic death
2013-06-29 Helping farming families affected by a traumatic death [PDF 245kb]
2013-06-18 SFF forced to shut down after decade of unmatched success
2013-06-14 Make a difference to the health of your farming community today!
APPLY NOW! MID-YEAR Enrolments close 7th July 2013
Health, safety and wellbeing are essential for productivity in primary industries and agribusiness.
HMF702 Healthy and Sustainable Agricultural Communities is the second core unit to be offered by the partnership between the School of Medicine at Deakin University and the National Centre for Farmer Health. This 12 week unit looks closely at how living in a rural and remote community impacts on the determinants of health. HMF702 aims to provide each student with the knowledge and skills to positively influence sustainability, the high rates of illness, injury and poor health in their agricultural community.
HMF702 is a core unit in the Graduate Certificate of Agricultural Health and Medicine and commences July 15th and runs through to October 11th, 2013 with online lectures and activities taking 3-4 hours per week to complete. The best news is that it’s all online!
If you work (or have aspirations to work) in agriculture, public health, health promotion, social work, veterinary, nursing and/or medicine in rural and remote areas then this unit will appeal to you.
Click here to begin your journey to improve health and sustainability in your farming community.
For further information on HMF702 please contact the National Centre for Farmer Health website at www.farmerhealth.org.au or call us on (03) 5551 8533.
Dr Jacqueline Cotton
Rural Health Lecturer
j.cotton@deakin.edu.au
2013-05-01 Healthy and Sustainable Agricultural Communities: Scholarships open Mon May 6th – May 24th Apply now!
Rural professionals (health, policy and agriculture) are the vital link that enable farming communities to achieve better health and sustainability.
Health, safety and wellbeing have a major impact on the productivity and sustainability of rural and remote communities. To develop your expertise and understanding of the intersectoral relationships in farming communities, the National Centre for Farmer Health through Deakin School of Medicine is delivering an essential online education opportunity to address the social, environmental, health and policy issues faced by agricultural communities in Australia and abroad.
HMF702 Healthy and Sustainable Agricultural Communities is the second core unit to be offered by the partnership between the School of Medicine at Deakin University and the National Centre for Farmer Health. This unit looks closely at how living in a rural and remote community impacts on the determinants of health. HMF702 aims to provide each student with the knowledge and skills to positively influence sustainability, the high rates of illness, injury and poor health in their agricultural community.
HMF702 is a core unit in the Graduate Certificate of Agricultural Health and Medicine and commences July 15th and runs through to October 11th, 2013 with online lectures and activities taking 3-4 hours per week to complete. The best news is that it’s all online!
Ms Amy Fay, a previous student and Program Development Manager – Natural Resource Management, Dairy Australia, said this about HMF702:
“I am an agricultural professional who works in sustainable agriculture, natural resource management research and policy. Crucial to my work is an understanding of all aspects of sustainability, including social and economic drivers. This unit gave me a solid overview of the health and welfare challenges the farming community faces and how these may impact on broader productivity”.
The learning materials we have developed are unique to higher education in Australia with topics including climate impacts on health, natural disaster recovery, rural lifestyle disease, food security, rural health workforce shortages, small-town and distance health promotion, remote health planning and policy, nutrition and exercise, alcohol consumption and roles of rural health and agricultural professionals.
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. The unit is offered at a postgraduate level and is an elective for postgraduate qualifications at Deakin University. It is a core unit of the Graduate Certificate of Agricultural Health and Medicine H522.
For further information on HMF702 click here.
We would value your participation in this cutting edge course and urge you to enrol within the next 2-4 weeks to secure a place for you or your staff. If you wish to complete the Graduate Certificate of Agricultural Health and Medicine you need to enrol in this course.
A limited number of scholarships are available. Applications close
Friday 24th May.
For further information on HMF702 or scholarships, please contact the National Centre for Farmer Health website at www.farmerhealth.org.au or call us on (03) 5551 8533.
2013-01-23 Agricultural Health and Medicine: course growing rural health professionals # Only 3 places left #
2012-10-24 Farmer centre gets more medical help for farmers’ health
The National Centre for Farmer Health (NCFH) is pleased that the Commonwealth Government has extended its Specialist Training Program funding for the public health medicine registrar position at the National Centre for Farmer Health until the end of 2015. This position is accredited with the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine’s (AFPHM) Training Program.
Based at NCFH in the agricultural hub of Hamilton, the position is focused on targeted health promotion activities for farming families and communities. The funding has enabled the current Public Health Medicine Trainee employed in the position, Dr Mark Newell, to gain valuable training experience in rural and agricultural health. The position has also provided Dr Newell the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills required as a public health medicine trainee.
Western District Health Service Chief Executive Officer Jim Fletcher said ‘This scheme is all about trying to bring health professionals to the people, and with the research and service delivery base at the NCFH we will be able to help accurately measure farmer conditions and needs’.
Dr. Newell said ‘My work at the NCFH has included conducting a study on the impact of arthritis on farming men and women in Victoria, assisting with health assessments at agricultural events, giving talks to agricultural populations, lecturing to post graduate students on public health aspects of farmer health and conference presentations on farmer health’.
Dr. Newell has also been able to complete the Deakin University course in Agricultural Health and Medicine as the Centre is a partnership between Western District Health Service and Deakin University School of Medicine. This position thus offers a unique opportunity for training public health medicine registrars.
The Chair of the AFPHM Education Committee, Dr Lynne Madden said “The opportunity for doctors to be involved in public health physician training at the NCFH is helping to develop a public health workforce more attuned to the needs of rural communities”. “There is a continuing need for public health medical expertise and capacity in rural Australia.”
“Funding through the Specialist Training Program is allowing our trainees to be involved in a broader range of public health policy, community based health services and research, with an overall aim of improving the health of the whole Australian community” Dr Madden said.
NCFH director Susan Brumby said “We are very pleased to see this position continuing, it is vital for healthcare that the broad brush of medicine including disease prevention and multi-disciplinary approaches are used by health service studies to determine the health needs of regional and rural communities. Rural areas too often come at the end of the planning line because, although they cover big areas, they have smaller populations.”
The NCFH centre will now start to look for a suitable applicant to fill the position as Dr. Mark Newell finishes in December 2012.
Hamilton is an excellent location with close by bushwalking at the Grampians and the coast at Port Fairy and having excellent primary and secondary schools.
Further details are available from
Jim Fletcher, Western District Health Service, (03) 5551 8215.