THE future of the National Centre for Farmer Health has been guaranteed with a $4 million pre-budget commitment from the state government.
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Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford was in Hamilton on Tuesday morning to announce the deal.
The centre was forced to slash staff numbers by 75 per cent after the previous Coalition government cut funding, saying the federal government should also contribute to the nationally-focussed program.
Just three full-time workers now operate from the centre, which has been based at Western District Health since it was set up in 2008 to address the high incidences of injury, illness, mental health issues and work-related fatalities in the farming population.
Ms Pulford said the government's commitment was not contingent on federal funding.
“We’re putting the health and wellbeing of our farmers and farming families first by saving the National Centre for Farmer Health," Ms Pulford said.
“Victorian agriculture production contributes $11.8 billion to the Victorian economy. For food and fibre production to grow, we need to give our farmers the support they deserve.”