Support farmer health – NCFH continues to battle for core funding to survive

The National Centre for Farmer Health continues to lobby the Victorian and Federal Governments for core funding to survive and continue its important work to improve the health, wellbeing & safety of Farm Families & Farm Workers; thereby contributing to productivity. Further support is necessary to help highlight the necessity of proven, essential services offered to improve the health, wellbeing & safety of farm men, women, families and agricultural workers. You can offer your support by writing a letter to your local State and /or Federal Member of Parliament. A sample letter is available for download.

Alcohol Consumption, Obesity, and Psychological Distress in Farming Communities—An Australian Study

Alcohol consumption patterns nationally and internationally have been identified as elevated in rural and remote populations. In the general Australian population, 20.5% of adult males and 16.9% of adult females drink at short‐term, high‐risk levels. Farmers are more likely to drink excessively than those living in major cities. This study seeks to explore the relationships between farmers’ physical and mental health and their alcohol consumption patterns. Our hypothesis is that farmers consume alcohol at high‐risk levels more often than the Australian average and that this consumption is associated with obesity and psychological distress.

Training and Experience of Nurses in Responding to Alcohol Misuse in Rural Communities

Alcohol misuse by farmers continues to challenge rural nurses. This article reports on the experiences of Australian nurses participating in the Alcohol Intervention Training Program (AITP).

International Perspectives on Psychosocial Working Conditions, Mental Health, and Stress of Dairy Farm Operators

The effect of physical activity on psychological distress, cortisol and obesity: results of the farming fit intervention program

Healthy Ageing: Farming into the Twilight

Health Status and Behaviours of Australian Farming Men

Cardiovascular risk factors and psychological distress in Australian farming communities

To examine the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, psychological distress and associations between physical and mental health parameters within a cohort of the Australian farming community.

Evaluation of an alcohol intervention training program for nurses in rural Australia

This paper reports on the development, implementation and evaluation of the Alcohol Intervention Training Program (AITP) designed to enhance nurses’ capacity to work with farming men and women who misuse alcohol.

Farming fit? Dispelling the Australian agrarian myth

Chest pain in rural communities; balancing decisions and distance

This pilot study examines the prevalence of cardiac risk factors in a cohort of agricultural workers, assesses their knowledge of local emergency health services and investigates their decision‐making abilities with regard to when and how they would seek help when experiencing chest pain.

The Alcohol Intervention Training Program (AITP): A response to alcohol misuse in the farming community

Farm men and women in Australia have higher levels of problematic alcohol use than their urban counterparts and experience elevated health risks associated with excessive alcohol consumption. The Sustainable Farm Families (SFF) program has worked successfully with farm men and women to address health, well- being and safety and has identified that further research and training is required to understand and address alcohol misuse behaviours. This project will add an innovative component to the program by training health professionals working with farm men and women to discuss and respond to alcohol-related physical and mental health problems.