Farm safety prizes on offer in Footy’s Favourite Farmer competition
02 June 2025•BlueSafe Team•Source: WorkSafe VIC
WorkSafe Victoria’s Footy’s Favourite Farmer competition offers $10,000 for safety upgrades at the winning farmer’s property and another $10,000 for safety improvements or repairs at their country football netball club. Nominations close on 31 July 2025.
WorkSafe Chief Executive Officer Ash West launched the search at the weekend’s WorkSafe Country Club Series game in Kyabram. The competition is being run in collaboration with AFL Victoria and Netball Victoria.
Mr West said the initiative recognised farmers’ contributions to their communities while highlighting workplace safety in agriculture. “Improving safety outcomes on the land starts with farmers talking to each other and understanding the value of a safe work environment both for themselves and their entire community.”
Agriculture employs just two per cent of Victoria’s workforce, yet regularly accounts for more than 10 per cent of workplace deaths. More than 30 people have died in agricultural workplaces since 2021.
Western Bulldogs premiership player and WorkSafe ambassador Tom Boyd said local sport helped build support networks in rural communities, particularly for farmers experiencing isolation. He said attending, training or playing gave farmers a sense of belonging and reduced the likelihood of facing life’s challenges alone. He urged clubs to recognise their local farmers by nominating them for the award.
Monthly winners drawn ahead of the major prize in August will receive a safety pack worth almost $2,000. Each pack includes a WorkSafe Award-winning AirAgri personal safety locator device, a quadbike operator protective device (OPD), a Footy’s Favourite Farmer branded work shirt, and footballs and netballs for the farmer’s club.
A separate prize will go to the club that nominates the largest number of individual farmers in this year’s competition. That club will receive a bag of WorkSafe Sherrin KB game footballs worth $1,300.
Rutherglen farmer Greg Lumby, the 2024 Footy’s Favourite Farmer, said winning had helped bring attention to farm safety in his community. He spoke about the importance of returning home safely from work so farmers could enjoy football and netball on Saturdays, and praised WorkSafe’s support for football netball clubs and its safety message.
Farmers can be nominated for Footy’s Favourite Farmer until 31 July 2025, with monthly prizes leading up to the major award in August.
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