The Allan Labor Government is ensuring Victorian farmers have the tools and tailored support they need to make farms safe places to live, work or visit.
Deputy Premier and Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC Ben Carroll today announced a $2.6 million funding agreement between WorkSafe and the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) to deliver the next phase of the Making Our Farms Safer project.
The funding will expand the project's dedicated safety advisory service, which delivers on-farm, in-person support to identify and help manage key risks.
The project also supports farmers with a range of tools and resources that help them adopt better on-farm health and safety practices.
Agriculture employs about two per cent of the Victorian workforce but is one of the State's high-risk industries, accounting for 33 work-related deaths since 2021. In that same period, WorkSafe accepted 2,458 claims from Victorian workers seriously injured in the sector.
This next phase of the Making Our Farms Safer project will have a stronger focus on high-risk areas such as cattle handling and the use of machinery including tractors and attachments, quad bikes and side-by-sides - which together account for more than a quarter of all farm injuries.
As part of this funding boost, the VFF will visit hundreds of farms, organise more safety activations, presentations and events, and help provide farmers with more practical support from industry experts and peers who understand the unique realities of farm life.
The partnership is part of WorkSafe's broader strategy to build strong relationships with farmers and industry groups to help drive down injuries and fatalities in the agriculture industry.
This includes the successful It's never you until it is campaign, which shares safety success stories from farmers, highlights the crucial role of safety conversations, and challenges common ideas which contribute to unsafe practices - such as that injuries and fatalities only happen to inexperienced farmers.
For more information visit worksafe.vic.gov.au/saferfarms or makingourfarmssafer.org.au
As stated by Deputy Premier and Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC Ben Carroll
"An investment in farm safety is an investment in the people who keep Victoria running - and this project supports farmers to create safer work environments without the red tape. It's practical, personalised and it's been shown to work."
"We've been listening to farmers who've asked for more in-person, tailored support from industry peers who understand the realities of farm life - and we're delivering."
As stated by WorkSafe Chief Health and Safety Officer Sam Jenkin
"Farmers are the backbone of Victoria, powering our economy, supporting regional communities and keeping our shelves stocked - and we must do everything we can to help farmers stay safe while doing some of the toughest work there is."
"It takes real conversations and real connections to create change and a culture of safety - this project will help ensure we are meaningfully engaging with farmers to understand where they're at on their safety journey, what's holding them back, and what we can work towards together."
As stated by VFF Chief Executive Officer Charlie Thomas
"Farmers have relied on the VFF Making Our Farms Safer project since 2020, and the team will continue working hard to improve safety and reduce the tragic overrepresentation of agriculture in workplace incidents."
"Nothing beats in-person, tailored safety advice to your farm. The team will be busy conducting on-farm safety visits and I encourage all farmers to take advantage of the free resources on offer."
