Remote Australia program
‘Because we live in such a remote area, far from doctors, hospitals and medical services, we get a bit blasé about all those health checks that we should do, and put them off most of the time’. ‘The SFF workshop made me think about being more proactive in regard to health issues’.
The Department of Health and Ageing (DOHA) have placed a priority on programs that addresses the health issues of remote agricultural populations. In 2006 the Commonwealth provided funding to Western District Health Service and its collaborative partners to undertake a project to work with farm families (pastoralists), industries and health services within Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA) 4 and 5 for a period of two years.
These are remote rural areas with significantly restricted accessibility of goods, services and opportunities for social interaction.
Sites for the Reaching the Remote program were:
- Tennant Creek and Katherine in the Northern Territory,
- Georgetown and Mt Surprise in North Queensland,
- Walgett and Burren Junction in New South Wales; and
- Esperance and Cascade in Western Australia.
Further projects are now being run in Geraldton and Northhampton in WA, these programs are addressed under the Western Australian Program.
Pastoralists and agricultural workers have embraced this research and are incorporating health as an important business indicator that affects their ‘triple bottom line’. The Sustainable Farm Families program™ has continued to grow in its capacity and has been extended to other agricultural industries such as dairy, and horticulture throughout rural Australia to test its transferability and to further investigate the health of farm families.
Key outcomes from the project reveal:
- Improvement in health indicators in some farm members at risk of diseases throughout the program
- Retention of some knowledge gained through the education process
- Overall improvement of the participants’ health through measurable indicators
- Recommendation of the health program to others by 100 percent of farming participants
The Reaching the Remote program ran between 2006 and 2008.
Reaching the Remote partners
We thank the following organisation for funding the program
- Department of Health and Ageing
Acknowledgement is also made to our collaborative partners:
- Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries and Mines in the Northern Territory
- Katherine West Health Board, Frontier Services
- Hunter New England Health Service
- Greater Western Area Health Service
- Western Australia Country Health Service
Their encouragement in improving the health of farm families was always a priority and this report reflects that commitment.
Publications & reports
Pastoralists and agricultural workers have embraced this research and are incorporating health as an important business indicator that affects their ‘triple bottom line’. The Sustainable Farm Families program™ has continued to grow in its capacity and has been extended to other agricultural industries such as dairy, and horticulture throughout rural Australia to test its transferability and to further investigate the health of farm families.
Sustainable Farm Families™ – Reaching the Remote – A Report for the Department of Health and Ageing[PDF 4.9mb].
Outcomes
Key outcomes from the project reveal:
- Improvement in health indicators in some farm members at risk of diseases throughout the program;
- Retention of some knowledge gained through the education process;
- Overall improvement of the participants’ health through measurable indicators; and
- Recommendation of the health program to others by 100 percent of farming participants
Comments
What participants said about the R&R program 2008
Media
2008
01-05-08 Care is never remote with Anna around – Frontier News [PDF 447kb]
31-03-08 Sustainable conclusion – North West Magazine [PDF 588]
28-03-08 Community health project – The Esperance Express [PDF 1.2mb]
26-03-08 Attending the Sustainable Farm Families workshop – The Spectator [PDF 333kb]
19-03-08 Successful farm families workshop concludes – The Spectator [PDF 447kb]
2007
01-12-07 Sustainable Farm Families – Excerpt Barkly Beef Newsletter [PDF 510kb]
14-11-07 Highlight on farming health – Katherine Times [PDF 1.1mb]
01-07-07 Sustainable Farm Families excerpt pedals magazine – Isolated Children’s Parents Association[PDF 1.6mb]
26-04-07 Sustainable Farm Families workshops building a stronger rural economy – The Black Opal Advocate [PDF 1.1mb]
25-04-07 Sustainable Farm Families workshop success – The Spectator [PDF 2.1mb]
01-04-07 Sustainable Farm Families – Excerpt North Australia Pastoral Company Newsletter [PDF 647kb]
25-01-07 Sustainable Farm Families – Excerpt The Winc Eyes – For Rural Women And The Cotton Industry [PDF ]
01-01-07 A first for esperance – Excerpt Cascade, Salmon Gums, Grass Patch And Coningup School Newsletters [PDF 298kb]
2006
18-12-06 SFF project running in Walgett, Burren Junction – North West Magazine [PDF 569kb]
13-12-06 Farm family health is number one – The Spectator [PDF 1.1mb]
29-11-06 Country Women’s Association Walgett branch – The Spectator [PDF 267kb]
29-11-06 Sustainable Farm Families workshop – Tennant District Times [PDF 13kb]
15-11-06 Farmers put health in front paddock – Katherine Times [PDF 1.3mb]
06-11-06 Walgett consultant – North West Magazine [PDF 256kb]
01-10-06 A healthy bottom line – Excerpt Department Of Agriculture Newsletter [PDF 277kb]
14-09-06 Invest in farm family health – Esperance Express [PDF 1.5mb]
13-09-06 Farmers health important for success – Katherine Times [PDF 1.5mb]
01-01-06 A healthy bottom line – Excerpt Rural, Remote And Regional Women Networks Newsletter [PDF 41kb]
01-01-06 A healthy bottom line – Excerpt Western Australia Farmers Federation Newsletter [PDF 372kb]
01-01-06 A healthy bottom line – Excerpt The Community Spirit Newsletter [PDF 551kb]
01-01-06 Sustainable Farm Families beyond the rural setting – Excerpt Association Australian Rural Nurse Newsletter [PDF 1.7mb]
Newsletter
SFF Rural & Remote Newsletter No.1 – July 2007 [PDF 377kb]