VIC farm safety program gets funding boost

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VIC Farm Safety Program Gets Funding Boost

The Victorian government has allocated a total of $1.25 million in grants to the Victorian Farmers Federation, Gardiner Foundation, and Fruit Growers Victoria to enhance farm safety and promote cultural safety and diversity among workers in the agriculture industry. This funding boost aims to strengthen farm safety across the state while extending support to farmers and industry stakeholders alike.

The Victorian Farmers Federation has been granted $600,000 to assist in the ongoing implementation of its Making Our Farms Safer initiative, offering free farm safety resources and services to all farmers in Victoria. These resources form part of a broader plan designed to give farmers practical tools for reducing hazards on-site, similar to efforts highlighted in increased funding to improve farm safety in Tasmania.

Why This Funding Matters for the Agriculture Industry

State Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence emphasised the significance of these grants for the wellbeing of workers across the industry.

"These grants encourage proactive measures to ensure the wellbeing of farmers and agriculture workers, while promoting diversity and inclusion across the sector," Ms Spence said.

"It is vital that we can continue to work alongside industry to combine our resources and expertise to enhance farm safety standards and farmer wellbeing and create a more inclusive environment that can benefit all."

How the Grants Support Farm Safety Across Victoria

Beyond direct funding, this program reflects a wider policy shift toward embedding safety into everyday farming practice. Support for cultural safety initiatives ensures the industry becomes more inclusive, while continued support for regional farming communities strengthens resilience during emergency situations, such as extreme weather events or equipment failures.

Key outcomes expected from this funding boost include:

• Expanded access to farm safety resources for eligible farmers across Victoria
• Ongoing support for the Making Our Farms Safer program over the next three years
• Greater emphasis on wellbeing initiatives that address mental health alongside physical safety
• Improved emergency preparedness support for farming communities
• Stronger diversity and inclusion policy across the agriculture sector

Similar funding boosts have been seen in other sectors, including the national heavy vehicle safety program funding boost and the recent funding boost for heavy vehicle safety projects, both of which demonstrate government commitment to industry-wide safety improvements across Australia.

Supporting Farm Safety With the Right Tools

Alongside government grants, businesses within the agriculture industry can strengthen their own safety policy frameworks using purpose-built resources. SafetyDocs offers a range of safety software solutions and documentation, including an Electrical Safety Policy and an Electrical Safety Checklist, to help farming operations manage risk more effectively.

Establishing clear workplace safety rules gives farm owners a practical foundation for building a safer working environment, complementing broader government support for the sector.

Businesses seeking to extend their safety offering can also explore SafetyDocs' Reseller Program, which provides partners with resources to support clients across regional and metropolitan industry sectors.

Read more here.

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