Sunday 20 July 2025

Every Near Miss Has a Lesson

Let’s not miss it

Farmsafe Australia launches 2025 National Farm Safety Week and Safer Farms Report

Farmsafe Australia has today launched its 2025 National Farm Safety Week campaign, centred around the theme “Second Chances – Who Knows How Many You’ll Get?” with a national call to action: if you’ve had a near miss on farm, don’t just move on; learn from it, share it safely, and use it to protect those around you.

Accompanying the campaign is the release of the 2025 Safer Farms Report (sponsored by WFI), which provides a sobering picture of on-farm harm over the past 18 months. Following a historic low of 32 farm fatalities in 2023, the sector recorded 72 deaths in 2024, the highest fatality figure in more than two decades.

Chair of Farmsafe Australia, Felicity Richards, says the data shows that farm safety isn’t just about preventing the worst-case scenario, it’s about reading the signs before they happen.

“So many incidents are preceded by a ‘close call’. A moment when we got lucky. But unless we talk about what almost happened and what we did differently afterwards, we’re missing one of the most powerful tools we have to change behaviour.”

The Second Chances campaign highlights the role of the near miss as a warning sign. It features stories from farmers across the country who’ve walked away from close calls and made changes that improved the safety of their families, their workers and their communities.

The campaign recognises that many farmers process these experiences quietly. “We know these stories are often hard to talk about,” says Richards. “Some come with trauma. Some carry fear of judgment. But when we’re ready, talking about what nearly went wrong helps normalise safer decision-making. Not from a place of blame but from a place of care.”

Ms Richards says this year’s safety week is about cultural change.

“When we share a near miss safely, without shame, and with a focus on the lesson, we create space for someone else to say, ‘Actually, that happened to me too’. That conversation can lead to real action: putting seatbelts on in side-by-sides, rethinking fatigue management, changing up how we supervise kids. None of those things happen in silence.”

Richards, a farmer and mother herself, notes the emotional weight behind the statistics.

“Every number in that report is a person. If we wait until after something goes wrong to take safety seriously, we’re already too late for a valued member of our workforce and a much-loved member of our families and communities.”

The campaign encourages safe sharing. “We are not asking anyone to relive trauma or share details they’re uncomfortable with,” says Richards. “Sometimes, the best thing we can do is reflect privately or debrief with our team. The important thing is not how we share, it’s that we don’t ignore the lesson.

The 2025 Safer Farms Report, sponsored by WFI, identifies key ongoing risks on Australian farms, including fatigue, poor communication, and child safety, all topics explored in the campaign throughout the week.

CGU & WFI Executive General Manager CX & Growth, Damien Gallagher said, “WFI Insurance is proud to sponsor the 2025 Safer Farms Report, a vital resource for farmers and their families aimed at saving lives. As one of Australia’s leading rural insurers, we see the life changing impacts of farming incidents and know not everyone gets a second chance. A momentary lapse in concentration can change a life forever.”

For the first time, side-by-side vehicles have overtaken quads and tractors as the leading cause of fatality, a major shift in the data trends over the last 10 years.

Despite the confronting data, the tone of this year’s campaign remains hopeful.

“We are not powerless,” says Felicity. “We’ve seen extraordinary leadership from farmers who’ve shared their stories, changed their systems and supported others to do the same. That’s what this week is about; giving voice to those second chances.”

The launch marks the beginning of a refreshed strategic direction for Farmsafe, backed by $2.5 million in federal funding to expand its work over the next three years. The organisation will invest in new tools, training, ambassador development and tailored resources to better serve farmers, families and rural workforces across the country.

As part of the campaign, Farmsafe is encouraging industry partners, member organisations and rural businesses to amplify the message.

“Everyone has a role to play in creating safer farms whether it’s by starting a toolbox talk, sharing a story, or just pausing before a job to check in,” says Richards. “This is

about taking steps. It’s about being conscious and trying to do better every day.”

 

FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT

Stevi Howdle

Email: showdle@farmsafe.org.au Mobile: 0488 298 499

About Farmsafe Australia

Farmsafe Australia is the peak industry body, bringing together farmers, industry experts, and agricultural stakeholders to ensure that every farm has access to safety information and education to create a safer place to live and work. With deep roots in the agricultural community, we share trusted resources and expert insights, ensuring every farm has access to support to help them protect what matters most.

 

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Disclaimer: These suggestions are intended as a guide only and are designed to provide information - it is not legal advice and does not take the place of proper individualised on-farm workplace inductions, work, health and safety training, or any other tailored steps which may be necessary to protect health and safety at specific worksites.