The competition, in collaboration with AFL Victoria and Netball Victoria, offers an exciting opportunity for farmers and their local clubs to win more than $20,000 worth of safety upgrades and other prizes.
Nominees stand a chance to secure $10,000 towards safety upgrades for the winner's farm and another $10,000 for safety improvements or repairs at their community football netball club.
Monthly winners drawn in the lead-up to the major prize in August will receive a safety pack valued at almost $2,000 which includes a Footy's Favourite Farmer branded shirt, a personal safety tracking device and a quadbike operator protective device (OPD).
The farmer's club also receives a merchandise pack of footballs and netballs valued up to $1,000 and the person who nominated them receives a prize pack worth more than $500.
WorkSafe Executive Director of External Affairs Sam Jenkin said the competition launch coincided with the start of WorkSafe's Country Club Weeks for 2024, with WorkSafe visiting Numurkah last week ahead of the highly anticipated clash with Nathalia.
"Our role is to reduce workplace harm and to improve outcomes for injured workers and in country areas we know a large part of staying safe at work means staying safe on farms," Mr Jenkin said.
"Sadly, too many workers are killed or seriously injured on farms every year and we are working to change that entrenched 'she'll be right' attitude passed down through generations."
The initiative aims not only to honour the invaluable contribution of farmers to local communities but also to emphasise the critical importance of workplace safety in the agriculture sector.
Four lives have already been lost in workplace incidents on farms this year, while more than 550 people working in agriculture and related support services were injured seriously enough to receive workers compensation last year.
Luke Stuckey, Footy's Favourite Farmer winner in 2023, said there was incredible value in WorkSafe's support of country football and netball.
"Every day is dangerous and you know, every day is different. So, the dangers change from day to day (working on a farm)," Mr Stuckey said.
"The WorkSafe message is massive… if you see a WorkSafe footy or you just see the banner somewhere it just makes you stop and think about getting home at the end of the day to see your kids and family."
Nominations for Footy's Favourite Farmer are open until 2 August 2024 at countryclubhub.com.au.
