2012-12-01 Health and farming…connect the dots!

Health and farming…connect the dots! [PDF 325kb]

Through lens or loudspeaker we ask you to share your agricultural vision

The second biennial National Centre for Farmer Health conference will be held next year in Hamilton, Victoria, from 17 – 19 September, 2012.

Following the success of the 2010 inaugural conference ‘Opening the Gates on Farmer Health’, the 2012 event entitled ‘Sowing the Seeds of Famer Health’ is already attracting strong national and international interest from high-profile industry authorities.

The NCFH Director, Clinical Associate Professor Susan Brumby, says the key to a successful conference will be the diverse and dynamic participation of people working at the coalface in and across Australian agriculture.

“This is a powerful forum for bringing together the people who really know, and understand, the unique demands of the farming community across the nation,” she says.

“Agriculture is one of the most dangerous industries in Australia and also has some challenges in terms of health and wellbeing. More attention and support is required for families and professionals supporting those living and working the land,” Clinical Associate Professor Brumby says.

The National Centre for Farmer Health is now calling for abstracts for the conference and invites responses from the community, as well as Agricultural, Health  and other rural professionals, to the following abstract themes;

• Mental health – Wagging the black dog’s tail  
• Chronic disease and healthy lifestyles – Feast or famine
• Agricultural hazards and safety – Reducing harm on the farm 
• Agriculture in a changing climate – It’s not always fair weather farming
• The business of farming – Being productive in a digital landscape
• Human and animal health - All creatures great and small 
• Lucky dip – Tell us your specialty!

The goal of the conference is to build in participation of farming families and agricultural workers, as well as academics, agribusiness and the medical, health and safety community. 

The conference is all about hearing what people say, and giving presenters the chance to meet industry and organization participants to discuss the issues affecting the lives of farmers. “Improving local and national networks is crucial to the success of what we are doing,” she says.

The conference will also be again hosting the national photography competition entitled ‘In Focus – Celebrating Farm Life’ which was highly successful and popular at the 2010 conference. 

Competition entries will be collated and exhibited at the regionally renowned Hamilton Art Gallery from 29 August – 14 October, 2012, with winners announced at the Conference Welcome Reception on Monday 17 September.

NCFH Event Coordinator Felicity Little says “the common portrayal of farming and agriculture in recent years has been one of drama or gloom. For those that have experienced aspects of country life, we know there is still much to celebrate, and the photography exhibition hopes to exemplify this".

“We are giving the community the opportunity to share their visions of all that agriculture and farming means to them through the lens of a camera” says Ms Little.

Themes for the competition include;

• Of droughts and flooding rains – Impact of weather events
• Red sky at night – Farming environment
• Country wisdom – Safe farming practices
• Working the land – Agriculture at work  
• Malting barley to Mallee bulls – What we grow
• Future farmers – What does farming look like in the future 
• Images of farm life

Further details about the conference, including instructions on abstract and photograph submission, can be found at www.farmerhealth.org.au/conference2012/home.

Further details available from Felicity Little, Event Coordinator, National Centre for Farmer Health, on (03) 5551 8533 or Susan Brumby, Director.