Queensland

About

Sustainable Farm Families™ an initiative of Western District Health Service (WDHS), Victoria was developed in 2003 to bring better health, well-being and safety to people on the land. In 2010 the Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General, Workplace Health and Safety (JAG) funded Western District Health Service to pilot the program in Queensland with an emphasis on:

• Obesity
• Smoking
• Alcohol consumption; and
• Sun exposure.

The purpose of this project was to pilot and evaluate the implementation of the Sustainable Farm Families™ (SFF) program within four rural communities in rural/remote Queensland, using an existing program methodology and evaluation framework.  The four locations in Queensland were:

• Bollon (delivered in partnership with Frontier Services)
• Greenvale (delivered in partnership with Frontier Services)
• Georgetown (delivered in partnership with Frontier Services)
• Wondai (delivered in partnership with Centacare).

 The SFF programs were well received as a means by which farm families could address health, well-being and safety issues with the aim of improving farming family health. With a strong cross sector collaborative approach and evidence based focus the program has made significant differences in the way farming families view their health, well-being and safety and importantly its relationship to their farming business. 

A final report has been submitted to the funding agency.