Sustainable Fishing Families: Developing industry human capital through health, wellbeing, safety and resilience
By developing an evidence-based health and safety training program for Australian fishing communities, this project meets the needs of the commercial wild-catch and aquaculture industry identified in FRDC’s RD&E Program 3, ‘Communities’ and particularly theme 10, which promotes resilient and supportive communities who are able to adapt to the social impacts of change in industry business environments.
The project will address a national need, identified by VicFRAB, to better understand the social and economic contribution of commercial fisheries, by identifying and addressing potential losses incurred through the poor health and wellbeing of the industry’s human capital.
Fishers tend to work in rural and remote communities, which means they have higher rates of mortality, disease and health risk factors than urban dwellers, further impacted by reduced access to primary health care services. Fishers are at particular risk of certain kinds of illnesses (eg. skin and diet-related), as well as injury (fatality rates are more than double those in the agricultural sector). Mental health concerns are higher than average in the fishing industry, exacerbated by uncertainties within the industry including often high debt and insecurity of tenure and licencing. While both women and men are at risk, 86.9% of fishers are male, a factor placing them at greater risk of suicide.
Fisher ‘attitudes’ also impact health, such as the culture of self-reliance, particularly among males. This may make fishers resilient, but also makes them less likely to adopt preventative health practices or to use health services, and they will usually wait longer before seeking medical assistance, particularly for issues of chronic poor mental health.
The Sustainable Fishing Families project will benefit fishing families’ health, safety and resilience by promoting a self-awareness of the value of the industry’s human capital, and building their health capacity.
Final report
Project products
2024 Fishing & Farming for the Future - DAF Hermitage Research Facility Schools Plant Science Competition
Should the FRDC be happy to provide sponsorship at a 'gold' level, as requested, the following benefits will be offered:
- FRDC invited to sponsor a specific competition prize/award.
- FRDC logo to be included in the competition coordinator's signature block in all competition email correspondence.
- FRDC logo to be included in all official 2024 competition publications (eg, competition instructions/guidelines resource, event invitations, event programs, certificates, etc).
- FRDC logo/banner displayed at promotional events including on stage at the Awards Day & Ag Science Expo (13 August 2024).
- FRDC representative(s) Invited to attend and present awards during the Awards Day & Ag Science Expo.
- FRDC acknowledged verbally during the welcome address at the Awards Day & Ag Science Expo.
- FRDC representative invited to give a 5-10min speech at the Awards Day & Ag Science Expo.
- FRDC invited to set up a trade display at the Awards Day & Ag Science Expo.
- FRDC's website linked to the DAF competition website.
- FRDC acknowledged in all DAF competition media releases. The competition attracts widespread media coverage throughout the year.
- FRDC's social media handles included in competition social media posts.
- FRDC promotional materials can be distributed to students and guests at the Awards Day & Ag Science Expo and/or in prize packs mailed to schools.
The 'Sponsorship Proposal' document outlines all details of the sponsorship opportunity and alternative arrangements may be discussed.