Children on farms across Australia are being invited to become Safety Champs.

MORE than 700 free Safety Champ program packs are being made available to boost farm hazard awareness in children living on farms as Farm Safety Week looms.

The Safety Champ initiative has been unveiled by BASF Australia and AgLink Australia ahead of Farm Safety Week, 17-23 July, 2023.

Farm safety for children is a key issue with 18 percent of recorded farm injuries in 2022 involving children under the age of 15. The packs are aimed at facilitating conversations between parents and caregivers with children about farm safety in a fun and educational way. They contain fun and educational farm safety themed activities and are designed to assist parents and caregivers in having discussions with kids about the importance of farm safety.

The contents of a Safety Champs pack.

The packs come in a re-usable drawstring bag and are targeted at 5-10 year-olds and include:

 A Safety Champs program introductory letter

 Child-sized safety vest

 Noise reducing earmuffs, which meet Australian safety standards

 Printable safety themed activities

 An ‘Our Farm Safety Pledge’ for families to complete together

 An official Safety Champs certificate

The packs are available at no cost to families while stock lasts. To find out more or to order a Safety Champs pack for your child click here.

Following a successful launch campaign in New Zealand in 2022, BASF’s head of agricultural solutions in Australia and New Zealand, Gavin Jackson, said Safety Champs is part of BASF’s dedication to upholding the safety of its people, customers, and their families.

“At BASF we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring the safety and livelihood of all in our farming communities, including the youngest members.

“Many farms are family owned and operated, therefore, the children of farmers today, may one day bear the responsibility of taking over the family’s farming business,” he said.

“We are proud to partner with AgLink to contribute to farm safety in Australia.

“Our intent is to roll out a bigger and better Safety Champs program that will drive greater awareness and understanding of what it means to be safer around equipment and hazards, in 2023 and beyond.”

AgLink Australia chief executive officer Ian Scutt said the organisation is delighted to partner with BASF to deliver a unique program that champions safety culture in rural and regional communities across Australia.

“Through participating in the Safety Champs program, farming families can work together to implement measures that can make their farm an even safer and more fun environment to grow up in.”

Families are encouraged to share their Safety Champ experiences via social media to generate greater understanding around the importance of embracing safe behaviours.

The initiative is supported by AgLink Australia members Farmer Johns, TGT, McGregor Gourlay, Pursehouse Rural, AGnVET Rural and AgriShop.

For more information, visit www.agriculture.basf.com or any of its social media channels.