An innovative programme that seeks to prevent Australian farmers from being injured or dying at work has received a $375,000 funding boost from the Australian Government.
Assistant Minister for Health Fiona Nash and Member for Parkes Mark Coulton today announced one-off funding of $375,000 for the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety (ACAHS) in NSW.
The NSW State Government will also provide funding of $100,000 a year for three years from 2013-14 to the ACAHS.
Minister Nash thanked Mr Coulton for raising the urgent need for funding assistance for the
ACAHS and said the funding would enable work to continue to improve the health, safety and well-being of people living and working in farm communities.
Mr Coulton welcomed the news and said the grant for the ACAHS which is based in Moree (NSW) and an arm of the University of Sydney’s School of Public Health would enable it to continue to deliver its Work Health and Safety Programme, which focuses on promoting improved health outcomes, including mental health, for farming communities.
“I am pleased to see continuing funding for the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety. The Centre has played a vital role in highlighting issues relating to safety on farms,” Mr Coulton said.
“Since the Centre’s inception we have seen a significant reduction in deaths from tractor rollovers and on-farm accidents have been prevented due to this valuable work.”
Minister Nash said people living in rural communities generally experienced higher rates of death, morbidity and chronic disease than Australians in urban or capital city locations.
“The Australian Government is committed to improving access to health services for people living in rural areas and to reducing the risk of injuries and accidents on farms.”
In addition to these activities the Australian Government is also investing in frontline service delivery to better support people living and working in rural communities.