Profile

qualifications: PhD

position: Senior Researcher National Centre for Farmer Health

Australia

Commenced as founding Director of the National Centre for Farmer Health in November 2008 - a partnership between Western District Health Service and Deakin University. She held this position from 2008 - 2021 and led the implementation of key strategies to improve the health, wellbeing and safety of farm men and women blending both her theoretical and practical understanding of health, agriculture, organisational management and rural communities. Her interests are in service delivery, workforce development, preventable disease, climate adaptation and hearing loss in farmers locally and globally. She has been the Course director for the Graduate Certificate in Agricultural Health and Medicine (GCAHM) (the only course in southern hemisphere), Principal Investigator of the award-winning Sustainable Farm Families (SFF) and Chief Investigator on ARC, NHMRC, RIRDC and beyondblue grants. She has held senior executive positions across rural and regional organisations and agricultural advisory councils. Recognised for her contribution to rural health, awarded a Victorian Travelling Fellowship to the USA and the EU looking at farmer health and decision-making and an overseas study program in 2006 & 2013. Susan has presented and published nationally and internationally on farmer health. Graduate and life fellow of the Australian Rural Leadership Program and a Life Governor of Western District Health Service and Board member and Chair of WVPHN. Research interests: health promotion, agromedicine, social learning, statistics, farming and governance.