Farmsafe launches campaign: ‘Second Chances – Who Knows How Many You’ll Get?’

FARMSAFE Australia has launched its 2025 National Farm Safety Week campaign with the theme “Second Chances – Who Knows How Many You’ll Get?”

It comes with a national call to action.

“If you’ve had a near miss on a farm, don’t just move on. Learn from it, share it safely, and use it to protect those around you.”

The National Farm Safety Week and Safer Farms Report 2025 shows that following a historic low of 32 farm fatalities in 2023, there were 72 deaths in 2024 – the highest number in more than two decades.

Chair of Farmsafe Australia Felicity Richards, says the data shows that farm safety isn’t just about preventing the worst-case scenario, it’s about reading the signs before they happen.

“So many incidents are preceded by a ‘close call’… a moment when we got lucky,” she said.

“But unless we talk about what almost happened and what we did differently afterwards, we’re missing one of the most powerful tools we have to change behaviour.”

The Second Chances campaign highlights the role of the near miss as a warning sign.

It features stories from farmers across the country who’ve walked away from close calls and made changes that improved the safety of their families, their workers and their communities.

The campaign recognises that many farmers process these experiences quietly.

“But when we’re ready, talking about what nearly went wrong helps normalise safer decision-making, not from a place of blame but from a place of care.”

Ms Richards says that when we share a near miss safely, without shame and with a focus on the lesson, we create space for someone else to say, ‘Actually, that happened to me too’.

“That conversation can lead to real action: putting seatbelts on side-by-sides, rethinking fatigue management, changing up how we supervise kids.

“None of those things happen in silence.”

Ms Richards, who is a farmer and mother, notes the emotional weight behind the Farm Safety Report statistics.

“Every number in that report is a person.”

“We are not asking anyone to relive trauma or share details they’re uncomfortable with.

“Sometimes, the best thing we can do is reflect privately or debrief with our team.

“The important thing is not how we share, it’s that we don’t ignore the lesson.”

The 2025 Safer Farms Report, sponsored by WFI, identifies key ongoing risks on Australian farms, including fatigue, poor communication, and child safety.

As part of the campaign, Farmsafe is encouraging industry partners, member organisations and rural businesses to amplify the message.

“Everyone has a role to play in creating safer farms whether it’s by starting a toolbox talk, sharing a story, or just pausing before a job to check in.

“This is about taking steps. It’s about being conscious and trying to do better every day.”

To find out more, visit farmsafe.org.au.

By Andrea FERRARI