It’s National Farm Safety Week between 20-26 July and rural communities are being encouraged to focus on safety and wellbeing on their farms.
The State Government has announced funding for a new all-ability initiative that is set to make farms safer and more inclusive – ensuring people of all abilities can fully participate in farm life with confidence and safety.
Ability Agriculture, an organisation which represents people living with a disability and promotes safety initiatives across the agricultural sector, received $25,000 in funding to create an online hub showcasing all-ability modifications farmers have made.
The hub will feature videos with workers sharing their experiences, along with tips from occupational therapists on how to adapt farms and equipment to support all abilities.
It will be available on the Ability Agriculture website, which was launched last year.
The State Government has also delivered $44,000 to Monash University’s Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit to better understand the context in which hospital-treated farm injuries occur in Victoria to inform future interventions.
This is in addition to the $42,000 funding delivered to the University of Melbourne towards a project that identifies effective ways to support culturally and linguistically diverse people to work safely in agriculture.
To find more information on services, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/farm-management/drought-support/mental-health-and-wellbeing-support
