The TFGA wants the State Government and farmers to know more about the state of their health. To that end, at next year’s Agfest it plans to shepherd them into a health pit-stop to be checked out.
In its Budget submission to the government, the TFGA is recommending a $100,000 program to gather information on farmers’ health, analyse it and report what it shows.
“There is little data about the overall health of Tasmanian farmers and the impact that health issues may be having on their productivity,” TFGA president Wayne Johnston said today.
“We all profess to be as strong as a Mallee bull, but who knows? We tend not to go to the doctor’s until it is absolutely necessary.
“Without accurate, current data the government cannot know with any accuracy which health services should be targeted to rural areas.
“We need services that have the capacity to deliver improved productivity and that will translate into future cost savings to the health system through preventative health.”
The TFGA has proposed the health pit-stop at Agfest 2016 “to coordinate and conduct holistic health checks for Tasmanian farmers”.
Mr Johnston said the “health mechanics” in the pit-stop would survey farmers about their health and walk them through a series of free health checks that would include eyesight, hearing, blood pressure, simple blood sugar levels, heart and lung function and mental health.
“Agfest is the perfect opportunity to do this sort of mass screening of farmers,” Mr Johnston said.
“We might need a good dog to round them up but I am sure we’ll get them in there.”
TFGA president Wayne Johnston
