National Centre for Farmer Health - Campfire

National Centre for Farmer Health - Campfire

By Farmer HealthHealth & FitnessMental Health
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National Centre for Farmer Health - Campfire episodes

  • Why is succession planning so stressful?

    Bringing up the topic of succession isn't easy - but it’s much harder to work on farm when there’s uncertainty about the future.

    In this episode we discuss why exactly the process of succession can be so stressful for farmers and farming families - and provide strategies to reduce the strain when it's your turn to sit down around the table. We also feature a Victorian farmer's lived experience with succession planning - complimenting Mike Krause's (P2PAgri) expert advice.

    This podcast is part of the Primary Producer Knowledge Network led by the National Centre for Farmer Health to promote mentally healthy workplaces. Campfire, part of The Primary Producer Knowledge Network, is funded by the Victorian State Governments WorkSafe WorkWell Mental Health Improvement Fund.

    19 min
  • Farm Security and Preventing Farm Crime - with Victoria Police

    Many challenges that farmers face, you can see coming, and can meet face on.

    Being robbed is different; it’s an invasion of your private life.


    In this episode, we chat with Victoria Police about the mental and financial impacts of farm crime - how you can prevent those impacts - and how the new farm security units, located around Victoria, can support you. 

    This podcast is part of the Primary Producer Knowledge Network led by the National Centre for Farmer Health to promote mentally healthy workplaces. Campfire, part of The Primary Producer Knowledge Network, is funded by the Victorian State Governments WorkSafe WorkWell Mental Health Improvement Fund.


    The material presented in this podcast and in associated materials is designed and intended to provide general information for general informational purposes only. The appropriateness of the material may not be suitable to all events or scenarios due to ach individual's circumstances. The material does not constitute legal or professional advice, are not intended to be a substitute for legal or professional advice, and should not be relied upon as such.

    20 min
  • Rural Resilience and Disaster Prevention in Agriculture

    This podcast is part of the Primary Producer Knowledge Network led by the National Centre for Farmer Health to promote mentally healthy workplaces. Campfire, part of The Primary Producer Knowledge Network, is funded by the Victorian State Governments WorkSafe WorkWell Mental Health Improvement Fund.

    18 min
  • Overcoming Isolation on Farm

    Stress and isolation are trending conditions in a COVID world - but this is nothing new to a farmer living in the middle of nowhere. Restrictions, lockdowns, and the closure of sources of social connection only compounded the isolation experienced by many farmers.

    Some farmers lost contact with their mates, and spent too much time their own head, overwhelmed by worries.

    In this episode, we discuss positive steps to tackle a sense of isolation, stress, and depression in agricultural workplaces.

    This podcast is part of the Primary Producer Knowledge Network led by the National Centre for Farmer Health to promote mentally healthy workplaces. Campfire, part of The Primary Producer Knowledge Network, is funded by the Victorian State Governments WorkSafe WorkWell Mental Health Improvement Fund.

    18 min
  • Preventing Bullying in Farming Workplaces

    Bullying in farm workplaces is far more common than many would like to admit - and workplace culture can encourage 'putting up with it', rather than speaking out. It should never be your responsibility to walk away from a job, to solve a bullying problem – there should be systems in place to prevent it ever happening. Bullying causes significant stress and long-term mental health impacts - and can even lead to physical dangers, if you are upset or distracted on farm.


    In this episode, we discuss preventative strategies and the agricultural workplace's obligation to set a culture and standard that does not tolerate bullying. 

    This podcast is part of the Primary Producer Knowledge Network led by the National Centre for Farmer Health to promote mentally healthy workplaces. Campfire, part of The Primary Producer Knowledge Network, is funded by the Victorian State Governments WorkSafe WorkWell Mental Health Improvement Fund.

    29 min
  • Healthy Ageing on the Farm

    You can do everything right when planning and executing a succession plan. You can get some help from a professional, to work through some of the trickier bits.

    However, what some farmers realise is, that they forget about themselves – and never really discussed their ongoing role on the farm, once the transition was over.

    Physically ageing farmers can often experience hearing loss. This not only poses a risk for accidents and injury, but can also affect farmers’ social connection and mental health. Ageing can also exacerbate arthritis and muscular pain, often caused by the physical tasks of farming over a long period. Your back might not be up to a full day of crutching sheep anymore, but you also might not be ready to retire completely.
     The median age of farmers and farm managers in Australia is 56, making it an especially important topic for the industry.

    But there are options to safely (both mentally and physically) continue to assist on the farm after retirement or succession. 

    This podcast is part of the Primary Producer Knowledge Network led by the National Centre for Farmer Health to promote mentally healthy workplaces. Campfire, part of The Primary Producer Knowledge Network, is funded by the Victorian State Governments WorkSafe WorkWell Mental Health Improvement Fund.

    25 min
  • Mentally Preparing for Fire Season

    Getting “bushfire ready” is something most farmers take very seriously - preparing for bushfire season is firmly earmarked in the calendar.


    Even if not severely impacted by a fire, many farmers have difficulty in getting back to feed livestock, access vehicles or have to urgently find ways to contain their animals after fencing had been destroyed. Many don't know how mentally stressful the aftermath would be for their business.
    Bushfire season can add to mental health risk factors, especially if the fire service is far away from a farming property. People who have experienced bushfires can also experience feelings of fear and anxiety when reminded of a traumatic experience.

    You can build bushfire preparedness - both physically and mentally - into the overall safety culture on your farm. And while you can’t control whether there’s a bushfire or not, you can use a risk-management approach to work-related stress.

    This podcast is part of the Primary Producer Knowledge Network led by the National Centre for Farmer Health to promote mentally healthy workplaces. Campfire, part of The Primary Producer Knowledge Network, is funded by the Victorian State Governments WorkSafe WorkWell Mental Health Improvement Fund.

    25 min
  • Practical Tips to Prevent Stress on Farm

    The overall mental health of your farm often depends on how the workplace is designed. Some farmers realise the hard way that they need to provide structure and feedback to employees, to keep them engaged and motivated.

    Ask a farmer what they love about their job and the word “freedom” usually comes up.

    The flip side to the great freedoms of farming, can be a lack of organisational structure. This can lead to employees having a lack of clarity about their role, increased feelings of stress, and conflict. When this is combined with the high job demands of farming, it can ultimately lead to poor mental health outcomes.

    Dr Kate Gunn is a clinical psychologist who has created a free, online tool, ifarmwell, to help farmers cope with challenging circumstances on the farm. In this episode, Kate discusses how work-related risks to mental health, and putting effort into creating a supportive workplace, can make all the difference on a farm. 

    This podcast is part of the Primary Producer Knowledge Network led by the National Centre for Farmer Health to promote mentally healthy workplaces. Campfire, part of The Primary Producer Knowledge Network, is funded by the Victorian State Governments WorkSafe WorkWell Mental Health Improvement Fund.

    19 min
  • Rural Financial Counselling Service

    The Rural Financial Counselling Service is a free, independent and confidential service operating across Victoria (with similar services in other states).

    When you call the RFCS, you’ll get a counsellor who lives and works locally and is a specialist in local conditions. The aim is always to get the farmer to a better place.

    A better place could be a better asset to liability ratio, a better production system, a better succession plan, a better relationship with banks and creditors, a better relationship with family members, and a better relationship with yourself.


    When it comes to running the family farm, investing in ways of working that support good mental health is not only good for your family and staff - but it’s good for business too. You can learn more about the Rural Financial Counselling Service at Rural Financial Counselling | National Recovery and Resilience Agency.

    This podcast is part of the Primary Producer Knowledge Network led by the National Centre for Farmer Health to promote mentally healthy workplaces. Campfire, part of The Primary Producer Knowledge Network, is funded by the Victorian State Governments WorkSafe WorkWell Mental Health Improvement Fund.

    16 min
  • Communication: It's more than words

    You can be a good farmer, who understands the nuances of farm business and agricultural science. But if you have poor communications skills with family and coworkers - your business, and the mental health of yourself and your workers, can suffer. 

    What saves many famillies – and farms - is sitting down with a family business professional, who helps create a clear line between the workplace and family relationships. It also enables farming families to understand that stress from workplace conflict also affects the functioning and productivity of the family business.


    In this episode, we discuss strategies for good communication in a primary production workplace, and how it can prevent work-related stress.

    This podcast is part of the Primary Producer Knowledge Network led by the National Centre for Farmer Health to promote mentally healthy workplaces. Campfire, part of The Primary Producer Knowledge Network, is funded by the Victorian State Governments WorkSafe WorkWell Mental Health Improvement Fund.

    23 min

About National Centre for Farmer Health - Campfire

From the publisher's feed

Campfire provides an engaging, solution-focused community for farmers and fishers to proactively improve their systems of work in support of mentally healthy workplaces.