The Nationals’ Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad has urged Northern Victorian farmers to use Farm Safety Week this week to reflect, learn and commit to safer practices.
Farm Safety Week runs until July 26 and this year’s campaign is: “Second Chances – Who Knows How Many You’ll Get?”
The campaign focuses on the close calls that can happen every day on Australian farms.
“Often, we brush off near misses as part of the job, but these moments are lessons, and they can be the difference between life and death,” Ms Broad said.
“Many farmers across Northern Victoria are doing it tough. They’re tired, stretched thin, and carrying a huge load. That pressure can lead to shortcuts or oversights, and that’s where accidents happen,” she said.
“Fatigue, routine, and split focus can turn everyday tasks into real dangers. Add in the stress of drought and the emotional toll it takes, and safety becomes even more critical.”
Ms Broad said this year’s campaign also shines a light on the invisible risks, like mental health, which can have just as much impact as physical hazards.
“Some of the most dangerous near misses on farms aren’t with machinery, they’re the silent struggles happening behind closed doors. We have to treat mental health as part of farm safety.”
For more information on Farm Safety Week, visit www.farmsafe.org.au.
Media Contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764
