Browse > Home / Farming, Rural / Farmer health centre opened

Farmer health centre opened

Posted on July 11, 2009, 12:12pm

Victorian farmers will have access to the highest standard of health-related services in Australia through the new National Centre for Farmer Health on Friday, Premier John Brumby said.

At the opening of the centre in Hamilton with Agriculture Minister Joe Helper, Mr Brumby said the $3.4 million facility would address the health and well-being of Victorian farmers, farm workers, agricultural employees and their families.

“The National Centre for Farmer Health is the first centre of its kind in the southern hemisphere and a landmark in Victoria’s agricultural history,” Mr Brumby said.

Agriculture Minister Joe Helper said the new National Centre for Farmer Health would investigate the causes and consequences of health issues within the farming community and deliver outcomes to improve them.

“Farmers are often more susceptible to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular disease and the on-going drought has contributed to higher levels of stress and anxiety,” Mr Helper said.

“The centre will focus on strengthening the human and rural service workforce to address prevention and early identification of diseases associated with farming and their risk factors, and to develop timely, appropriate and effective interventions.”

The National Centre for Farmer Health is being delivered jointly by Hamilton’s Western District Health Service and Deakin University’s School of Medicine.

It has been funded by the Victorian Government and the Helen and Geoff Handbury Philanthropic Trust.

Tags: , ,  

Comments

Posting of new comments is currently disabled.