National Farm Safety Week, held from the 20th to the 26th of July, served as an important reminder that the health and wellbeing of farmers is critical to maintaining safety on the land. Marking the occasion, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) called for stronger support for rural healthcare services to better protect those who work in one of the country’s most demanding industries.
According to ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin, investing in local, high-quality healthcare is essential for creating safer farming environments across Australia’s rural and remote regions.
“Farming is one of the most physically and mentally demanding jobs in Australia, and our farmers face unique health and safety risks every day,” Dr Martin said.
“To support safer farms, we must support the health of the people who run them — that means having skilled, locally based doctors who understand rural and remote life and can provide care when and where it’s needed.”
Dr Martin said Rural Generalists (RGs) — doctors trained to work across multiple disciplines in rural settings — play a key role in delivering that care.
“Rural Generalist doctors bring advanced skills in emergency medicine, mental health, surgery, maternity care, anaesthetics, and more – and are trained to deliver whole-of-life care in settings beyond the urban footprint,” he said.
“Whether it’s responding to a machinery accident, providing mental health support via telehealth, or managing chronic disease, RGs are vital to the fabric of healthy rural communities.”
As the only medical college dedicated to training a Rural Generalist workforce, ACRRM says that improving access to these services is not only good for individual farmers but also for the future of entire communities.
“Investing in RGs will not only improve rural health outcomes — it will help stabilise the rural medical workforce and support the sustainability of rural towns,” Dr Martin said.
“It’s time we recognised that building up rural healthcare is part of building up rural Australia.”
While Farm Safety Week has wrapped up for another year, the message is clear: year-round support for rural healthcare is essential to safer farms, stronger communities, and a more resilient agricultural sector.
ACRRM President, Dr Rod Martin (Photo Supplied)
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