During National Farm Safety Week from 14 to 20 July, under the theme ‘In Safe Hands,’ Farmsafe Australia underscores the inherent benefits of growing up on the farm while promoting the role of hands on parents to ensure children experience the wonders of rural life safely.
Living on a farm provides children with unparalleled opportunities for learning, growth, and the acquisition of life skills that will stay with them forever.
From tending to animals to understanding the cycles of nature, farm life fosters resilience, responsibility, and a deep appreciation for the world around them.
However, on average, 15 per cent of on-farm fatalities are children under the age of 15.
This is a tragic number of young lives being lost every year and accounting for immense suffering amongst parents, siblings and small communities who are left to grieve.
Felicity Richards, chair of Farmsafe Australia and mother of three small farmers, celebrates the positive aspects of farm life for children.
“Growing up on a farm is a unique and enriching experience and it instills values of hard work, resourcefulness, and a profound connection to the land,“ she said.
“However, with these incredible opportunities come responsibilities.
“During National Farm Safety Week, Farmsafe Australia highlights the critical importance of active supervision, ensuring that children are in safe hands while exploring and participating in the wonders of the farm.“
Dr Richard Franklin, professor at James Cook University, Farmsafe Australia board member and president of Kidsafe Australia, agrees that active supervision is the number one action parents and caregivers can take to ensure the safety of their children or visiting children to their farm.
“Active supervision goes beyond mere presence,“ he said.
“It involves staying engaged, anticipating potential risks, and guiding children as they navigate the farm environment and the evidence is clear.
“The statistics provide very important information in this area, with more than 58 per cent of child fatalities on farm lacking parental supervision at the time of the incident occurring.“
Mrs Richards is quick to dispel common misconceptions.
“Active supervision is not about saying children can’t be part of farm life; farms are often family homes and children experience so many benefits growing up as farm kids.
“It’s about fostering an environment that allows our kids to have those experiences as safely as possible.
“As farming parents, it can be challenging to balance the desire to involve our children in the workplace, with keeping them under active supervision.
“It might seem harmless for them to play in the yards while we work, but it’s important to recognise if we’re focused on cattle work, we’re not supervising our kids and if we’re not supervising our kids, especially our young kids, it’s only too easy for them to come into harm’s way.“
National Farm Safety Week encourages parents, caregivers, and the farming community to embrace the positive aspects of growing up on the farm while prioritising active supervision. By doing so, we ensure that every child’s experience is not only joyful and filled with valuable life lessons, but also safe.
