Farmer Health Shifts the Gears in Safety Resources for Young People

Helping farmers out of the mud webinar now online

Do you recognise the signs exhibited by people suffering from stress and fatigue? How do you respond? Are you aware of the appropriate assistance and helpful resources available to help them through the tough times?

These were just some of points covered by the successful webinars produced and delivered by the National Centre for Farmer Health (NCFH) to help agricultural advisors and service providers working with farm families immediately after the floods and the ongoing months of flood recovery.

A recording of this informative webinar, which attracted more than 80 participants, is now available to all on the NCFH website www.farmerhealth.org.au/buildingfarmspirit.

NCFH flood recovery response project officer, Sally Cunningham, said while the floods may seem like so long ago, it is only now that the stress and fatigue of it all will start to take a hold on farmers, farm families and farm workers.

“Service providers and trusted agricultural advisors play a really important role in assisting farmers through the flood recovery journey,” Ms Cunningham said.

“This webinar helped them to recognise and respond to farmer stress, highlighted appropriate assistance and resources available and then reflect on how to protect themselves from risks to their own mental health.”

Ms Cunningham said the National Centre for Farmer Health has posted a video of the popular webinar on its website to meet the demand for this information coming from the wider community across Australia.

“While targeted to agricultural advisors, it will help people to recognise and respond to farmers exhibiting significant signs of stress, learn where to refer farmers for appropriate assistance and helpful resources, and show how to look after yourself when supporting others.”

——– ENDS ——-

Sally Cunningham is available for interview: (03) 5551 8533 or email: sally.cunningham@wdhs.net

Photo: A high res copy of the photo is available on request.

For more information about the National Centre for Farmer Health Flood Response or to access a list of support resources, visit www.farmerhealth.org.au/buildingfarmspirit or contact Project Officer, Sally Cunningham

For more information about National Centre for Farmer Health visit www.farmerhealth.org.au

For media and communications enquiries contact NCFH Marketing Communications Coordinator, Annabelle Macgugan on (03) 5551 8582 or email: amacgugan@wdhs.net

The postgraduate study that can change lives

Scholarships to study Healthy and Sustainable Agricultural Communities are now open. Apply through the link below.

More than ever, agricultural communities need people in their corner. People who understand the true impact of safety culture, changing climate, disasters like drought, flood and disease pandemic, and how changing agricultural practices influence the health and wellbeing of communities. People who are dynamic, understanding and can lead change in their communities…change makers like YOU.

Learn to support health, wellbeing and safety of your rural community – upskill and make a difference your community starting now! Part scholarships worth $1650 are now open to professionals who want to make a difference in their rural community.

“Working with rural and remote communities I believe I have a deeper understating of the mental and physical issues the farming community face thanks to the HMF702 unit. I have been able to ‘think outside the box’ when working with rural communities in supporting them to optimal health and wellbeing.”

Sarah Crosthwaite Social Worker & 2023 Nuffield Scholar, Wodonga VIC

Delivered completely online, Healthy and Sustainable Agricultural Communities (HMF702) offers the flexibility to learn remotely and connect with students from across Australia.

Apply for Healthy and Sustainable Agricultural Communities (HMF702) here

Farmer Health eNews May 2023

Find out the latest from the National Centre for Farmer Health

• Shifting Gears: farm safety resources for educators
• Dr Rob Gordon talks flood recovery
• Postgraduate study that can change lives
• This HAT fits every farmer!
• May Events

View the May 2023 eNews

Read past issues of eNews

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The National Centre for Farmer Health – working together to break down barriers to mental health support

Keeping farmers healthy with AgriClinics – Interview for Rural Health Pro

Written by Jackelyn Villegas for Rural Health Pro. Read the original publication here.  

The National Centre for Farmer Health (NCFH) developed AgriSafe AgriClinics to give farmers the opportunity to undertake a comprehensive health check with a clinician specially trained in farmer health.

According to a 10-year study by the National Rural Health Alliance, one farmer commits suicide every 10 days in Australia. Alongside poor mental health, farmers experience increased risk of injury and their workplace exposes them to potentially harmful agrichemicals. With this in mind, it is especially important that farmers in rural and remote areas have access to quality health services tailored to the specific concerns of those working in the agricultural industry.

The National Centre for Farmer Health (NCFH) developed AgriSafe AgriClinics to give farmers the opportunity to undertake a comprehensive health check with a clinician specially trained in farmer health. AgriClinics are 90 minute, free-of-charge consults available to anyone working in the Victorian agricultural sector. AgriClinics seek to assess farmers’ health with an in-depth health assessment as well as provide education on hazards around the farm and personal protective equipment use.

Consultations include a range of tests including blood glucose and lipid testing, hearing and vision testing, skin examination, urine testing and agrichemical exposure (anticholinesterase) testing. AgriSafe Clinicians also fit test farmers with a mask or respirator and complete an occupational risk assessment.

Since 2011, AgriSafe has delivered 368 clinics to farmers in rural Victoria. They currently serve the communities of Hamilton, Penshurst, Harrow, Shepparton, Dookie, Nathalia, Numurkah, Tatura, Kerang, Cohuna, Boort, Quambatook and Pyramid Hill.

AgriSafe Clinician Megan Little said AgriClinics have been very popular within the farming community.

“AgriSafe came about as there was a need for a tailored service for farmers, they are a hard-to-reach population due to geographical isolation and a lack of resources.

“The clinics have had a really good uptake in their first few years. It gets spread via word of mouth and I will often have farmers in the clinic who reach out to us and book in because their mate had a consult done and they want to find out more.

“Some farmers you have to push a little bit to get them in here, but once they’re here, they really find the service valuable,” Megan said.

Megan is a Registered Nurse who completed postgraduate studies aligning with her interest in farmer health. She studied a Graduate Certificate of Agricultural Health and Medicine through Deakin University and the NCFH. She now runs the AgriSafe clinic in Hamilton and Harrow and said AgriClinics are particularly beneficial to farmers as they are highly specific to the health and safety of farmers.

“We get patients to do a survey before they come in. That gives us an idea of the type of farming they do, their lifestyle behaviours and their safety practices on the farm. Then we can really tailor the clinics specifically to their needs.

“In the 90 minutes, we do everything from blood pressure, your basics like height and weight and body fat percentage. We do a fasting blood glucose and a cholesterol test as well. We also do a unique test called cholinesterase testing. Cholinesterase is a nerve transmitter in our body and certain agrichemicals that we use on the farm will block or inhibit cholinesterase. That leads into a really good discussion about PPE and exposure to chemicals,” Megan said.

After an AgriClinic consult, clinicians prepare a letter of recommendations to farmers covering health, safety and behaviour changes. A letter is sent to the patient’s GP and farmers are encouraged to engage with other health professionals where needed. A follow-up consult is booked in one month after the initial consultation as part of the AgriSafe process.

“We get patients to come back a month later because we like to get three cholinesterase levels. That consult a month later is a good opportunity to catch up with them and see if they followed through with anything or if they’re having any challenges and troubleshoot with them. So it’s a really personalised, tailored clinic,” Megan said.

Farmer mental health is also a focus of the consults and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) screening tests are routinely carried out and patients with high scores are referred to their GP and supported with a range of resources from the NCFH, including free, online psychology sessions.

 Megan said her role as an AgriSafe Clinician is highly rewarding as she has the opportunity to make a real difference to the health of rural and remote farmers.

 “For nurses out there, I just think this is one of the best jobs in nursing. Every day, I’m using my brain and I am challenged intellectually and using different skills. I love chatting to farmers in my role, it’s always fun,” she said.

 If you are interested in becoming an AgriSafe Clinician, contact the NCFH to discuss the requirements. Clinicians must be Registered Nurses and enrolled in the Graduate Certificate of Agricultural Health and Medicine. AgriClinics can be set up from general practices, bush nursing centres or community health hubs and the NCFH provide all the necessary support in setting up the clinic. Currently AgriClinics operate solely in Victoria, with plans to expand nationwide in the future.

Breaking the stigma: Peer-led Behavioural Activation interventions for farmers’ mental health

Farming is a high-stress occupation with a range of factors that negatively impact farmers’ mental health, including financial pressures and isolation. Yet, farmers often lack access to appropriate support.

Our recent study has shown that Behavioural Activation (BA), an evidence-based therapy, can be effectively delivered by nonclinical workers within the farming community. By working with members of the farming community, this approach could overcome the well-established barriers to mental health help-seeking and improve outcomes for farmers.

The co-design phase of the study involved ten online focus groups with 22 participants and identified four overarching themes: filling the gap in rural mental health support, aligning with the farming context, the importance of the messenger, and ensuring sustainability and support.

The findings suggest that peer-led BA interventions can be an appropriate model of support for the farming community, and ensuring governance structures to support peers to deliver the intervention will be essential to facilitate effectiveness, safety and sustainability.

The insights gained through co-design have been critical to the success of developing this new model of support for members of farming communities experiencing depression or low mood. This approach could make a significant difference to the mental health of farmers and help address the mental health crisis in farming communities.

Co-designing a peer-led model of delivering behavioural activation for people living with depression or low mood in Australian farming communities

Abstract

Introduction

Farmers face a range of factors that negatively influence their mental health and suicide risk, yet have limited access to appropriate support. Behavioural activation (BA) is an evidence-based therapy that can be effectively delivered by nonclinical workers. Working with members of farming communities to deliver BA to their peers has the potential to overcome many well-established barriers to mental health help-seeking and improve outcomes for this at-risk group.

Objective

This paper describes the findings of a co-design phase informing the development of a peer (farmer)-led approach for delivering BA for farmers living with depression or low mood.

Design

This qualitative study used a co-design approach involving members of the target community. Focus groups were transcribed and analysed using Thematic Analysis and the Framework approach.

Findings

Ten online focus groups with 22 participants were held over 3 months. Four overarching, interlinked themes were identified: (i) filling the gap in rural mental health support; (ii) alignment with the farming context—tailoring how, where and when we engage about mental health; (iii) the ‘messenger’ is as important as the message; and (iv) sustainability, governance and support.

Discussion

Findings suggest BA could be a contextually appropriate model of support for the farming community—given its practical and solution-focused approach—and could help improve access to support. Having peer workers deliver the intervention was viewed as appropriate. Ensuring governance structures are developed to support peers to deliver the intervention will be essential to facilitate effectiveness, safety and sustainability.

Conclusion

Insights gained through co-design have been critical to the success of developing this new model of support for members of farming communities experiencing depression or low mood.

Join our team!

Hey there nursing superheroes! Are you passionate about improving the health and wellbeing of our farmers? Then we have the perfect opportunity for you! The National Centre for Farmer Health (NCFH) in Hamilton, Victoria is on the lookout for a dynamic and experienced registered nurse to join our team as a Farmer Health Clinician.

As a Farmer Health Clinician, you will play a crucial role in developing and delivering farmer-focused health programs, including health checks and AgriSafe Clinics. You’ll also have the opportunity to represent the NCFH through speaking engagements, promoting the organization and its partners, and developing links and partnerships with industry and community.

To be considered for the role, you must be a Division 1-qualified nurse with at least 3 years of post-graduate experience and a current AHPRA registration. Bonus points if you have completed the postgraduate unit HMF701 Agricultural Health & Medicine or are committed to completing it in 2024, or have obtained the Graduate Certificate of Agricultural Health & Medicine (GCHAM).

The position is part-time to cover a maternity leave, but part-time or casual employment may be possible after the leave period ends. And as you’ll be required to travel to provide clinical services in remote and rural locations, you must have a valid driver’s license.

So if you’re ready to make a difference in the lives of our farmers and communities, and be part of an incredible team of passionate individuals, then apply now and join us at the NCFH!

To read the full job description and apply, follow this link:

What GPs need to know about accidental livestock vaccine injury

Article republished from RACGP – What GPs need to know about accidental livestock vaccine injury.

Gudair and Silirum are vaccines that provide protection against Johne’s disease, an incurable and terminal wasting disease of livestock caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium paratuberculosis.
 
While safe for sheep, goats (Gudair) and cattle (Silirum), there are potential consequences associated with accidental human injection.
 
Even when a small amount of these vaccines is accidentally injected into a human, intense swelling and a persistent granulomatous inflammatory reaction can occur.
 
Reactions to the vaccine are particularly serious if injected into a finger joint or tendon sheath. With the latter, the product may track along the tendon and the swelling and inflammation post injection may compromise blood supply and result in necrosis, which in rare cases can lead to the loss of a digit.
 
What is in Gudair and Silirum?
These vaccines contain: 

• inactivated Mycobacterium paratuberculosis organisms
• mineral oil
• thiomersal (preservative)

The oil-based vaccine typically forms a depot at the injection site, acting as a potent adjuvant, stimulating a cell-mediated immune response to the mycobacteria. The action of the adjuvant and antigen combination in this vaccine produces a reaction similar to that elicited by Freund’s complete adjuvant.

Common recommendations given by healthcare professionals post exposure
After any human injection or adverse reaction with Gudair or Silirum, the patient should immediately stop vaccinating and cease working until the severity of the exposure is properly assessed.

Zoetis is aware of the following treatment strategies that have been recommended by doctors in the past:

Superficial skin exposure, eye exposure and oral ingestion

• Skin contact: wash the contaminated area with warm soapy water. If irritation develops and persists, or if the patient is concerned, seek medical attention
• Eye splash: remove contact lens and irrigate eyes thoroughly with saline solution for at least 15 minutes and promptly seek medical attention
• Oral ingestion: rinse the mouth out with cool water. If irritation develops, the patient feels unwell or if they are concerned, seek medical attention

Needle-stick and needle scratch injuries without known injection of vaccine
Doctors have recommended that the wound be allowed to bleed freely and advise not to squeeze or interfere with the wound. They have also recommended that the wound then be cleaned thoroughly with warm water and then kept clean and dry.

• Doctors have also considered that, following appropriate immediate local cleansing, corticosteroids may decrease the severity of any local reaction
• Doctors have frequently determined the patient’s tetanus immunisation status and administered a booster or primary series, as appropriate
• Commonly, if there is no pain or swelling 24 hours post exposure, doctors have continued to monitor for at least a month and have treated any clinical symptoms that arise accordingly

If pain and swelling is present after 24 hours, it should be considered that it is a case of accidental or self-injection and the injury should be treated as described below.

Suspected injection of vaccine
In cases of accidental or self-injection, needle stick, needle scratch or contamination of an open wound where there is suspected introduction of vaccine into the body, doctors have considered that prompt surgical attention may be required and, in those cases, the doctors have: 

• incised the wound to remove the vaccine, especially where there is involvement of finger pulp or tendon
• in the case of a lesion that has progressed to necrosis or granulomatous ulceration, surgeons have performed surgical debridement to remove residual vaccine material.

Surgeons have stated that meticulous technique has been required to stop inadvertent spread of the product during surgery.

Given the nature of this Freund’s-like vaccine, Zoetis recommends that any healthcare professional speak with a surgeon who has experience with the treatment of cases of accidental or self-injection of either vaccine to ensure the appropriate treatment is advised.

If presented with a case of accidental or self-injection with, or adverse reaction to, Gudair or Silirum, healthcare professionals are advised to contact Zoetis on 1800 814 883.

Visit the RACGP website here: RACGP – newsGP

For more information about needlestick injuries, read our factsheet here: Farmer Needlestick Injuries – Risk & Recommended Treatment | National Centre for Farmer Health

Protecting Children on Farms

Written by PhD Candidate Jessie Adams. PhD topic Injury Risk and Safety Behaviours of Children on Victorian Farms.

Writing this blog post had me reminiscing on my childhood growing up on a beef farm in northeast Victoria. I couldn’t imagine a better upbringing than on a farm; there were so many fun activities—horse riding, yabbying, make-believe games, and playing with the chooks. Growing up on the farm also taught me so many important life skills—hard work, resilience, practical skills, responsibility and the life cycle. 

I realise now there were many safety measures my parents had in place to keep me safe that I did not necessarily realise at the time; a fenced farmhouse, the chemical shed being out of bounds, my sister and I never being allowed to swim in the dams and having to carry walkie talkies at all times when horse riding. I was unaware that I was living in one of Australia’s most dangerous industries as it was all I had ever known. This is the reality for many Australian farming families—we know children will always be engaged with the farm worksite, it is part of the tradition and lifestyle, however, we need to make sure this is happening in the safest way possible.

The challenge

There is often a blurred distinction between the farm as a home and a workplace, meaning family members (e.g. children) are also engaged/exposed to the farming hazards. The agriculture, forestry and fishing industry has the highest worker fatality rate per 100,000 workers. So, if this environment is dangerous for the adults working in it, adding children would only increase the risk of injury. The farm-related injury rate of children on farms in Australia has remained consistent over the last 20 years. Parents are faced with many challenges in regard to children and the farm worksite including, but not limited to; working long/above average hours, lack of access to childcare/services/facilities, traditions and the desire to involve children on the farm.

The role of adults on the farm when children are around is to provide the safest environment possible. Children are vulnerable to injury and are not born with common sense or awareness of danger/risks.

Some considerations to help keep children safe on your farm

The Hierarchy of Control

The hierarchy of control is a step-by-step approach that assists in controlling the risks in a workplace. It ranks controls from the most reliable and highest level of protection to the least reliable and lowest form of protection.

Parents can step through the process from Elimination to Personal Protective Equipment in order to implement the most appropriate safety measures for each hazard to keep children safe on their farms.

An example of how parents can utilise the hierarchy of control in regard to a two-wheeled motorbike:  

• Elimination – removal of keys from the motorbike so children cannot operate it. 
• Substitution – ensuring the motorbike is the appropriate size
• Engineering controls – adjustment of the throttle speed
• Administrative controls – ensuring children are trained, there are rules in place and are supervised
• Person Protective equipment – children always wear protective equipment including helmets and boots

The Victorian Farmers Federation have recently developed a child safety on farm handbook that assists parents in stepping through the hierarchy of control in regard to children working on the farm.

You can access it here: https://www.makingourfarmssafer.org.au/resources/children/child-safety-on-farm-handbook/

Age and development-specific considerations

The necessary safety precautions for children on farms evolve depending on the development and age of the child. What might be acceptable for one 10-year-old might be deemed unsafe for another. This is especially important to note when visiting children will be on the farm. For this reason, it is important to implement and communicate developmentally appropriate rules and precautions to keep all children safe on your farm. These can include:

• Safe play areas – create a physical barrier (at least 1.2m high) that prevents young children from entering dangerous environments. It is important to add interesting items to keep children occupied (e.g. sandpit or toys).
• Developmentally appropriate tasks – as children begin undertaking tasks on the farm, it is important they are both physically and mentally developmentally appropriate for each child (this would vary from child to child). For example, starting with feeding baby animals may be appropriate.
• Supervision – constant active supervision (child within sight, sound and reach) is recommended, particularly for young children. The type of supervision may change as children develop, however, it is important if children are on the farm worksite or undertaking farm tasks when an adult is present. 
• Training – suitable training and explanation of tasks and highlighting of potential hazards is vital as children start to engage with the farm.

Children are always watching

Parents/adults play a crucial role in influencing their children’s behaviours. Children often believe what they see in the world around them is correct. Therefore, it is important that adults role-model the correct implementation of safety measures, wear appropriate safety equipment and behave in the way they would want their child to at all times on the farm. It is hard to teach and enforce safe behaviours if you are not practicing what you preach. 

Having open conversations about safety on the farm with the whole family with your children from a young age is important. This could involve walking around together and pointing out/discussing potential hazards and discussing what can be done to make them as safe as possible.

To find out more about child safety on farms, visit our factsheet here.

Farmer Health eNews April 2023

Find out the latest from the National Centre for Farmer Health

• Breaking down barriers to mental health support
• Building Farm Spirit
• Lysn
• Are farmers really unbreakable?
• Protecting Children on Farms: Blog Post
• Managing Stress on the Farm
• April Events

View the April 2023 eNews

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