An all-ability state government initiative to make farms safer and more inclusive has been launched to provide ‘confidence and safety’ to farm life. Acting minister for agriculture Gayle Tierney announced on Monday 21 July the Allan government's funding of $25,000 for Ability Agriculture, an organisation which represents people living with a disability and promotes safety initiatives across the agricultural sector. Ability Agriculture will create an online hub featuring resources and videos highlighting all-abilities modifications farm owners have made to support workers, family members, and others. The hub will feature videos with workers sharing their experiences, along with tips from occupational therapists on how to adapt farms and equipment to support all abilities and will be available on the Ability Agriculture website, which was launched last year. The government has also delivered $44,000 to Monash University’s Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit to better understand the context in which hospital-treated farm injuries occur in Victoria, to inform future interventions. This is in addition to the $42,000 funding delivered to the University of Melbourne towards a project that identifies effective ways to support culturally and linguistically diverse people to work safely in agriculture. Ms Tierney said National Farmer Safety Week was an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the importance of farm safety and well-being. “We are making Victorian farms safer for people of all abilities,” Ms Tierney said. “(This) ensures anyone, no matter their ability, can contribute to our agricultural sector with confidence.”
