Sustainable Farm Families hits the small screen
Tamara Oudyn and a film crew from the ABC television 
program Stateline have recently spent two days in Dunkeld filming the award winning Sustainable Farm Families program.
“The concept of Sustainable Farm Families appealed to Stateline because it’s a prime example of the creative ways people are helping each other in rural communities. It was terrific to see just how much the farm families got out of the workshop,” she said.
The program aims to develop the knowledge of farmers regarding their own health, well-being and safety with a focus on what practical steps can be taken to improve the lives of farm families and the impact this improvement can deliver to their farm businesses.
Cee Blackwell, a participant in the program said “that the program was enlightening and enabled participants to become more self aware. Of particular importance was it highlighted how much you have to have a healthy body and mind for the farm business to function effectively, it really is the health body, healthy mind equals a healthy farm business concept.”
Sustainable Farm Families is an initiative of Western District Health Service and is delivered in partnership with the Department of Primary Industries (DPI).
Farmers who attended came from Dunkeld, Woodhouse and surrounding areas and became aware of the opportunity through the Glenthompson Dunkeld Football Netball Club (GDFNC). GDFNC applied to run the program, as the majority of their members were from farming families and represented a wide cross-section of agricultural enterprises, including viticulture, prime lambs, wool, beef and cropping.
Farmers who have completed the program have reported their overall health was enhanced, from everything from better eating to improved farm safety.
Some also found that they were able to make better decisions because they had a new perspective of how important their health and families were in their lives.
All participants will return to complete another two day workshop in 12 months, again receiving a health assessment so they can track their health indicators over time.
The program will be aired on the ABC on Friday at 7:30pm over the next fortnight.
Pictured: Sue Watt Women’s Health Nurse being interviewed with, sound recordist, Bill Whiteside, journalist, Tamara Oudyn and camera man Kris Nund.
Media contact:
Cate Mercer- Grant
SFF Program Manager
Western District Health Service
03 5551 8450