Victorian early learning and primary school students are shining a light on the importance of farm safety, using their creativity to send a clear message.
Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas today met virtually with St Brendan’s Primary School, Coragulac in the state’s west to announce the winners of KidSafe Victoria’s Farm Safety Creative Competition, which included a video made by St Brendan’s prep and Grade 1 students.
The competition encourages students to submit a video, radio ad, invention, poster, illustrated story or collage based on this year’s theme, Think Farm Safe, Be Farm Safe
There were 70 entries across the state including St Brendan’s Primary School, St Augustine’s College in Kyabram, Penshurst Primary School and Marlo Primary School as well as entries from Little Tykes Early Learning in South Elliminyt and Monash Community Family Co-operative in Notting Hill.
22 winning entries will be used as part of a state-wide child farm safety awareness social media campaign aimed at Victorian parents and carers early next year.
The Farm Safety Creative Competition and Campaign is part of the Andrews Labor Government’s $20 million Smarter, Safer Farms program to improve safety and skills outcomes for Victorian farmers, their families, farm workers and visitors.
According to the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit (VISU), children under the age of 15 in Victoria’s outer regional areas are four times more likely to die due to injury than children in our major cities.
Common injury hazards for children on farms include vehicles such as quad bikes, motorbikes and tractors, accidents involving animals, water hazards, machinery and poisons.
Find out more about the program here:
Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas
“There were so many bright ideas from our young students across Victoria in the 2021 Farm Safety Creative Competition. Congratulations to all of our winners.”
“As the summer holidays are approaching, it is a timely reminder to all families who visit or live on farms to keep child safety at the front of mind.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Workplace Safety Ingrid Stitt
“Farms are a great place for children to grow up in – but they can also be dangerous. This initiative gets both kids and adults remembering how to stay safe on farms in a creative way.”
Quote attributable to Kidsafe Victoria General Manager Jason Chambers
“The quality of entries and important safety messages in this year’s Farm Safety Creative competition demonstrates that children are taking an active role in investigating farm safety issues and feeling empowered to be part of the solution.”
Reviewed 10 December 2021