Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator McKenzie for her question and for her dedicated representation of regional communities. I would be very pleased up update the Senate on the government's commitment to provide $375,000 to the National Centre for Farmer Health. This is in conjunction with the Victorian government's commitment of $250,000—and want to thank the minister, David Davis, and particularly the member for Lowan, Hugh Delahunty, for their tireless work on this. We were able to provide total funding of $625,000.

In operation since 2008, the National Centre for Farmer Health's work will continue to build on the industry, government and academic partnerships developed initially through the Sustainable Farm Families Program. The National Centre for Farmer Health will bring together university research, service delivery, government and education, by focusing on five key areas including professional training and education, applied research and development, web-based information and services, agri-safe clinics and the Sustainable Farm Families programs.

The National Centre for Farmer Health is an expert in a unique and growing discipline of agricultural health and medicine and, in partnership with Deakin University School of Medicine, deliver the only postgraduate agricultural health training available in Australia. Recent analysis of past students showed over 80 per cent working in rural settings. The Sustainable Farm Families initiative is an award-winning, proactive program that creates a bridge between health services and farm families who do not independently seek out health professionals and information. The program contextualises health, mental health and safety in a business framework, and lets farmers recognise their health and wellbeing as their most important asset. Indeed, over 2,525 farmers from 120 different locations have participated.