THE National Centre for Farmer Health (NCFH) in Hamilton will be able to continue supporting the safety and wellbeing of farmers across the country after the state Victorian Government backflipped and was forced to correct its decision to not fund the centre.

NCFH director, Dr Alison Kennedy said the organisation was very pleased that the Victorian Government had a change of heart.

“(It is pleasing the government has) recognised the unique and demonstrated value that the work of the National Centre for Farmer Health provides to the health, wellbeing and safety of our farmers, farm workers and farming families” she said.

Lowan MP and agriculture shadow minister, Emma Kealy, backed strong advocacy from the centre and farming communities after the government failed to provide funding for the centre in last week’s 2024-25 State Budget.

Ms Kealy said the advocacy ultimately led the State Government to announce on Wednesday that it would reverse its decision and provide $900,000 to continue the centre’s operations for another year.

Ms Kealy commended the centre’s team – led by Dr Kennedy – for its activism to ensure farmers, farm workers and their families would not be forced to lose this much-needed resource and its unique and valuable services.

“The funding cut was deeply disappointing not just for the local Hamilton community but for farmers across the state who have been working with the centre for the past decade through its mental health initiatives, the Sustainable Farm Families program, and its many other programs that are vital in connecting farmers with practical support,” she said.

She said the cut not only created huge uncertainty for the centre and all those who rely on its services but was particularly disappointing given agriculture had the highest number of work-related deaths of any industry in Australia.

“We have already seen a number of on-farm deaths in our state this year,” Ms Kealy said.

 “Now is not a time to be cutting funding.

“We need to make sure we are working together to support and educate farmers to put best-practice in place so that they can be safe at work each day, and the National Centre for Farmer Health is critical to achieving this.

“For years Labor have failed to properly fund farm safety initiatives, and it’s our hardworking farmers and their families that are paying the price.

“Programs that actually deliver for people should be the last things the government looks at cutting, because the flow-on effects to our communities and our health system (was) so significant.

“The reinstatement of funding for the National Centre for Farmer Health is imperative in ensuring the centre can continue its high-quality programs, evidence-based services and research initiatives that support the farming sector in dealing with the increasing health, wellbeing and safety challenges it faces.”

Dr Kennedy said the NCFH organisation was also humbled by the incredible public support shown for the Centre as a result of the threat to funding. 

“While another 12 months of funding is greatly appreciated, there is more to be done,” she said.

“We will continue to work with the government and other supporting partners to secure longer-term funding.

“This will be critical for us to maintain a high-quality staff team and the ability to plan and develop partnerships and funding for longer term projects.”