The Australian Government has opened applications for up to $1.6 million in grants for activities that improve farm safety outcomes across Australia.
Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud said that increasing safety awareness and training to save lives on farms is a critical national issue.
“Unfortunately, 1 in 5 workplace fatalities happen on a farm,” Minister Littleproud said.
“Finding ways to get safety messaging out there on to farms is paramount to saving lives and improving health and safety.
“These grants will go to projects that deliver well-designed, fit-for-purpose and adaptable safety training and education.
“They will be a game-changer, not just for this generation of farmers, but the next one to come.
“In 2019 there were 133 on-farm injuries and 58 on-farm fatalities.
“Australian farmers only make up 2.6 per cent of Australia’s workforce, but they count for 21 per cent of workplace fatalities. I believe we can do better and must continue to work hard to improve these statistics.
“These grants will provide the means for our agricultural industry and other organisations to come together to help reduce the risks and instances of farm fatalities and accidents.
“The risks are different across farming systems and commodities, but there is a lot of great research and solutions being developed across the country that we can expand on or leverage.
“This is about getting people to come together and think differently about the ways they work to come up with innovative projects and solutions to a nationwide problem.”
For eligibility, terms and conditions, guidelines and application forms, visit: GrantConnect and Community Grants Hub websites. Applications close at 9:00 PM AEST on 28 July 2021.
- Applications open today for the National Farm Safety Education Fund: Improving Farm Safety Practices grants program.
- The program aims to increase awareness of farm safety, and develop educational tools and training to reduce the likelihood of on-farm accidents.
- Up to $1.6 million has been committed in funding.
