Farmsafe Australia - Toolbox Talks

Dr Charles Dennison is a Pediatric Emergency Physician at the University of Iowa's College of Medicine. **Please note: Farmsafe Australia does not recommend children under 16 driving, or being passengers on, quad bikes. The guest in this podcast is speaking from the context of emergency presentation and injury prevention in the United States of America.

Dr Wayne Sanderson is a professor at the University of Lexington, Kentucky. Dr. Sanderson’s primary research focus is on agricultural health and safety and he is also the Director of the Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health, which is a leading national Center for research and education on health and safety problems facing rural residents.

Simone Kain is passionate about food, agriculture, children, and education. She hopes that George the Farmer will help to give both rural and city-based children a better understanding and connection to where their food and fibre comes from, which is critical for the future sustainability of our food supply chain and critical in making healthy food choices.

Dr Richard Franklin talks to Kerri-Lynn Peachey, from AgHealth Australia Research Center for the University of Sydney at the School of Rural Health in Dubbo. Kerri-Lynn is the Farm Safety Research Manager at Ag-Health Australia. Her main role is to provide accurate, timely, concise and relevant data about injuries occurring on farms or due to agricultural work.

Jim Conn is a beef farmer on Flinders Island. Currently he is running his own property as well as managing the family farm and overseeing the second family beef property. Recently returned home 18 months ago after finishing his studies at Marcus Oldham College. He is committed to the ag industry and takes safety very seriously. He see this as a way to assist with profits, work culture and most importantly a safe workplace. He very much wants to promote an open line of communication and efficient systems.

Associate Professor Kate Gunn leads a team of behavioural science-focused researchers who work with rural people to understand their health and mental health-related strengths and challenges, and co-develop meaningful solutions to them. She is particularly passionate about finding creative ways to improve farmers' mental health, prevent suicide and improve rural cancer outcomes. In 2018, Kate foundedifarmwell.com.au. She brings to this role experience from working as a Clinical Psychologist, as well as from growing upon a farm near Streaky Bay.

Dr Richard Franklin interviews John Darcy, a senior farm safety advisor with Victorian Farmers Federation and has over 33 years experience in safety and workers compensation across a whole range of different industries. And at the moment, he's helping the VFF understand what they need to do to help particularly small and medium sized enterprises be better at workplace, health and safety.

Dr Franklin interviews Associate Professor Lyn Frager, AO. Lyn is currently the Independent Chair of the Rural Safety and Health Alliance, an alliance of eight agricultural research and development corporations. She comes from a farming background, having been on the farm. Plus, she was instrumental in the beginning of Farmsafe Australia!

This weeks episode is an interview with Scott Phillips, Chief Executive Officer of Kidsafe, WA. Kidsafe is a national organisation which aims to make the world safer for kids by leading the promotion of action to highlight and minimise the unacceptable level of risk and consequences of injury to children.

Dr Richard Franklin interviews Justin Scarr, the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Life Saving Society and he's just celebrated 10 years in the position as Chief Executive Officer. He's the convener of the Australian Water Safety Council, and the Drowning Prevention Commissioner for the International Life Saving Federation.

Dr Richard Franklin interviews Farmsafe Australia's Stakeholder Engagement Officer, Blake Hillier, on the Safer Farms Report 2023 and National Farm Safety Week.

Dr Richard Franklin interviews Lana Mitchell, Director of Brand & Communications of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia. Over the last 8 years she has worked to bring real stories of patients and staff of the RFDS to a broader audience through many channels, including podcasts, digital and TV.

Caitlin is a fifth generation Farmer from Moriarty on the North West Coast of Tasmania and the first female farmer in her family. In 2020 she was named the
Australian Apprentice of the Year across all industries after completing her Cert III in Agriculture as an apprentice on farm with her father Shane. After starting CO Agriculture Pty Ltd with her partner Owen she now share-farms with her grandfather Reuben and is looking forward to one day running her own
farm and heading into renting the farm soon. Caitlin serves her community on numerous committees including Rural Youth, Agfest, NW Dressage
Zone and on the board for the Port Sorell Community Bank. Caitlin is driven to be a role model for other young women and young people in Agriculture.

Professor Don Voaklander is the Director of the Alberta Centre for Injury Control and Research at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta Canada. His research focuses on injury prevention, injury epidemiology, health outcomes, health data linkage. Medication use and injury in seniors and has worked for many years exploring how to improve safety in Agriculture in Canada. He spent a number of year in Victoria, Australia Part of his research has been to explore the safety of older farmers

Adam Blatch is the Chief Executive Officer of Feel the Magic, an Australian charity providing early intervention grief education programs for kids aged 7 to 17, who are experiencing pain and isolation due to the death of a parent, guardian, or sibling. With over 25years’experience, Adam has led organisational transformation, strategy development, governance performance & development, change and people/culture initiatives in some of Australia’s best-known for purpose organisations. With a passion for helping people and organisations succeed, he is an executive leader with extensive experience in connecting people performance to organisational goals through performance alignment, coaching/mentoring and ensuring that people use their strengths and perform at their best

Dr Marsha Salzwedel is a Project Scientist and Agricultural Youth Safety Specialist at the National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety in Marshfield, Wisconsin, USA. She grew up on a farm and continues to be involved in farming with her family.

Jessie Adams comes from a rural background and is a Researcher and PhD Student at Deakin University. Jessie is exploring ways to ensure the safety of children on Farms. She has recently undertaken a review of the Australian literature to understand the key hazards and risk factors for child injuries on farms.

Dr Tristan Casey is an expert in safety leadership and organisational culture, and is a seasoned ‘scientist-practitioner’ who understands how to generate research with practical impact. With a career in workplace health and safety spanning over 15years, he has consulted nationally and internationally across a diverse range of industries.

Felicity Richards is Chair of Farmsafe Australia. She and her husband Mark run a beef grazing operation in northern Tasmania. Felicity holds a law degree from the Australian National University and worked in policy and regulation for 10years before returning to farming in2013. Felicity's role includes Human Resources, Accounting, Health and Safety, Compliance and Risk, and she loves getting out and working the livestock and with her horse whenever time permits. She and Mark have three small children who adore the farm, particularly feeding the odd poddy calf. Felicity also chairs the Tasmanian Biosecurity Advisory Committee.

Glen "Cookie" Cook is a renowned and award winning powerline safety expert and speaker. He is dedicated to promoting electrical and powerline safety, especially among workers in agriculture, aviation, and construction. With over 25 years of experience as an electrician, Cookie shares his firsthand knowledge of powerline safety with these high-risk industries. He also works closely with them to help reduce the risk of serious injuries and fatalities from third-party contact with powerlines. In addition to consulting, Cookie advocates for these industries to raise awareness of the importance of powerline safety. Cookie was the Australian Health and Safety professional of the year at the Australian Workplace health and Safety awards in 2020.