Ross Pilkington: Farm fatalities – the last straw
Keynote presenter: Ross Pilkington
Organisation: WorkSafe
Abstract:
On average approximately one third of all work related fatalities each year in Victoria
occur on farms, this equates to 20 deaths in 2009. Yet less than 5% of the Victorian workforce works on farms.
This disparity is a major concern to WorkSafe and is why significant resources continue to be placed into the agriculture sector in an attempt to reduce harm in the industry. Anecdotal evidence shows that an ageing workforce, combined with use of machinery and the perception that farmers view risks and injuries as a normal part of farming are major factors in why injuries continue to occur in the agriculture industry.
It is WorkSafe’s view that safety on farms can be improved through increased Occupational Health and Safety awareness and farmers committing to control harmful factors on their properties. This strategy further develops the industries ability and capacity to manage harm to people and allow for the implementation of systems and physical controls in their work activities. The presentation will explore the mechanisms of Incentive, Assistance, Enforcement and Persuasion that WorkSafe use to improve safety in the broader Victorian community. Farms, like any other industry and workplace in Victoria are required to meet the same legal standard. This view, once accepted by the farming industry will lead to farmers taking ownership of the issues at their workplaces (family farm).
The paper also looks at the question of what is a workplace in relation to a farm – “Workplace or Home”
WorkSafe will then discuss the common myths of safety in farming and propose a “way forward” to a safety first paradigm of Zero Harm.
Linda Syson-Nibbs: Evidenced based practice – to do or not to do
Keynote presenter: Linda Syson-Nibbs
Organisation: Derbyshire County PCT, Derbyshire, UK
Abstract:
In the UK the health and social inequalities experienced by rural communities remain largely hidden by traditional health indicators. These inequalities have been compounded by the economic decline in farming which was accelerated in UK hill farming by the 2001 foot and mouth disease crisis. Despite the widely acknowledged link between poverty and ill health the impact of this economic decline has received little attention.
This first part of this presentation will describe a participatory heath needs assessment of a hill farming community in the Derbyshire Peak District National Park. A social model of health was used as an assessment framework and a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods were employed including a controlled population survey of farmers registered with one general practice (n=500). The findings showed significant psychosocial ill health with farmers having an overall health status that was significantly lower than social classes IV and V and the UK mean.
The second part of this presentation will go on to describe the implementation and evaluation to date of Farm Out, a Primary Care Trust public health programme of interventions to address identified health needs. The initiatives developed include the use of the local agricultural market as a tandem outlet for health provision, the conduct of a photographic public mental health project targeting young farmers and the establishment of a Farming Life Centre to support psychosocial wellbeing.Created: March 27, 2014
John Martin: Farmer health, social connection and community resilience: bohemians or bedfellows?
Keynote presenter: John Martin
Organisation: La Trobe University
Abstract:
The nature of rural society has meant that farmers regularly associate in informal ways with their neighbours discussing farming practices, prices and how policy impacts their livelihood. This informal, bohemian association, typical of writers, artists, and craftspeople, is essential for farmers to develop a perspective on the many issues and choices they have running their family business. With such a common set of issues farmers – often represented in popular culture as individualistic, self determining and stoic in the face of the environmental and economic adversity they encounter – are, in fact, bedfellows in their common story of addressing these challenges and their survival. Understanding the role of social connection and community resilience and its impact on the health and wellbeing of farming families and Australian rural communities is an important outcome of the Sustainable Farm Families program. In this presentation we reflect on the social and policy impacts of this innovative farming family health and wellbeing program; discuss the implication for farmer health policy more generally and predict the impact on the security of our nation’s food and fibre in the absence of public policy that recognises and responds to the increasing turbulence facing Australian farming communities.
Joe Graffam: Opening the gates on farmer health
Abstract:
This address begins by focusing on the issue of health inequities associated with regional, rural and remote communities including mortality and morbidity rates with specific reference to both physical and mental health conditions. It then addresses inequities in health services across those communities. It is argued that in addition to redressing the inequities in health services availability, prevention and health promotion can play an important part in reversing health inequities and improving health within regional, rural and remote communities. Improved ‘health literacy’ and lifestyle change are major contributors to health gains. The presentation concludes by drawing attention to the importance of continuing research, commitment to lifelong learning, evidence based practice, and strong university-community partnership in health promotion and health care delivery.
Marisa Gilles: Rural workforce – the art of boundary crossing
Boundary crossers understand the culture and language of community and health service domains and have the trust of both. Rural professionals living within the communities they serve are ideally placed to harness community capacity so as to influence community-level determinants of health. I will analyse two case studies of rural health professionals acting as boundary crossers against indicators of capacity for communities and external agents such as health services working in partnership. A more explicit evidence base for inclusion of community health development in the jobs of rural health professionals is needed.
Kelley Donham: Agricultural Medicine and Environmental Health – linking the land to lives
Agricultural medicine is the specialty field of occupational health that deals specifically with the health and safety of agricultural producers, their families, and employees. Production agriculture is one of the most hazardous of occupations – worldwide. Agriculture is a most basic industry. A small percentage of the population in developed countries is engaged in production agriculture, and the trend is for fewer and older people making up the population. However, the approximate two percent of the population of developed countries involved in agriculture in developed nations produces the vast majority of the food and fibre that feeds and clothes the world. Therefore, the production agricultural population is an extremely important population, and one that must be preserved and sustained. The essence of the field of agricultural medicine is to do just that.
Agricultural medicine is a multidisciplinary field, involving physicians, physician assistants, nurses and veterinarians among others. Agricultural medicine is not usually taught in general health care curricula, and thus a special curriculum for students in graduate training and post graduate health care providers must fill this void. The topics of Agricultural Medicine includes the cultural dimensions of those working in agriculture, which is necessary for providers to understand in order to be an effective provider of health services to this community. Agricultural medicine also includes the essence of production practices in one’s region so that the provider understands how things are done in order for the provider to link the occupational exposures to the condition presented before them. Further topics include diseases and conditions commonly linked to agricultural exposures and systems diseases including the respiratory, musculoskeletal, and nervous systems, the skin, pesticides and other toxins, and general environmental effects. Diagnosis, treatment and prevention are covered, both for the individual and for the community.
This presentation will cover in depth the history and current status of training of agricultural medicine in various countries around the world. Special emphasis will be paid to the developing field with suggestions for best practices of agricultural medicine in Australia, in the efforts to develop a national Australian program.
Rob Grenfell: I’ve got the sugar!
Keynote presenter: Rob Grenfell
Organisation: Victorian Department of Health
2011-10-14 Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry submissions
A Future for Farming in Victoria
Trade figures regularly show the extent to which both global and local markets depend on Victoria’s farming sector. Yet, Paul Weller MP, Member for Rodney, believes that the industry which produces so much quality food and fibre products is in need of urgent attention.
‘Our farming sector is now facing a crisis because of a shortage of workers,’ Mr Weller said.
A new Inquiry by the cross-party Rural and Regional Committee, which Mr Weller Chairs, will investigate the capacity of the farming sector to attract and retain young people. ‘We are now calling for submissions to the Inquiry. We want input from farming communities that are facing workforce issues and that can help formulate solutions,’ said Mr Weller.
Mr Weller is asking all Victorians involved in agriculture, aquaculture and forestry industries and in farming communities to get involved with the Committee’s Inquiry. ‘The Committee will visit rural and regional Victoria for input from communities themselves on what the issues are and how problems can be solved.’
Mr Weller said that farming communities and the agriculture industry in Victoria are a vibrant and essential part of our economy and culture, and we need to ensure that the food and fibre industries in Victoria thrive so that all Victorians can benefit.
The Committee will look into:
- attracting and retaining young people;
- career pathways for young people, recruitment strategies and opportunities;
- responding to an ageing workforce;
- models of farm business ownership;
- skills development, community capacity and farm family health; and
- the Victorian economy and government policy.
The National Centre for Farmer Health has prepared a submission to the inquiry headed by Rodney MP Paul Weller. We will be attending the inquiry hearing at Dunkeld on Monday 17th October. Also joining us at the inquiry will be local Penshurst farmers James and Lucie Peddie.
Further information:
https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/inquiries
Reaping the benefits of agricultural education and training
The agricultural sector makes a significant contribution to the economic prosperity of Victoria, and a highly skilled agriculture workforce is vital to ensuring the sector’s continuing productivity and success,” said the Committee’s Chair, Mr David Southwick MP. Employment in the Australian sector is predicted to increase by 27,100 jobs over the next five years, however, there is widespread concern that employee supply will struggle to keep pace with this future demand.
A priority for the Inquiry will be to examine the effectiveness of current agricultural-based education and training in providing skilled employees to the agriculture sector. As part of this, the Committee will review courses offered in Victorian schools; the vocational education and training sector; higher education institutions; and other informal educational and training environments.
There is an increasing demand in the sector for more specialised skills relating to the use of new technologies, innovation, and understanding global markets,” stated Mr Southwick. “We will investigate the extent to which these workforce training needs are being met by existing courses and curriculum.”
The Committee is also very interested in exploring the role and capacity of the agricultural sector to contribute to the development of relevant education and training courses, as well as the effectiveness of training offered in less formal settings in enhancing the skill levels of workers in the sector.
The National Centre for Farmer Health has prepared a submission to the inquiry headed by Caulfield MP David Southwick.