Rural ISSC communique: November 2025

The Rural Industry Sector Standing Committee (Committee) met on Thursday, 26 November 2025.

The focus of the meeting was on ways to improve and further understand effective safety messaging and safety training for farmers and workers in the rural and agricultural sectors. The Committee received presentations from Farmsafe Australia and FarmSafe Queensland, TAFE Queensland, the Department of Trade, Employment and Training and Real Skills Ag Training.

The discussions and presentations highlighted the importance of:

• Simplified messaging through a variety of engagement avenues
• Amplification of messages, in conjunction with and through, member organisations
• Authenticity in messaging and campaign materials.

The Office of Industrial Relations (OIR) advised how it engages across government and across broader stakeholder networks on agricultural safety matters and messaging.  OIR also noted its latest collaborative educational efforts with the release of webinars on the Rural Plant Code of Practice.

Members discussed the use of social media to amplify messaging, safety information and the importance of case studies. Members considered ways to reach and connect with schools to share safety and training messaging in rural and remote areas.

The Committee noted Safe Work Australia’s model fatigue code of practice which members agreed to review out of session.

Members considered reports provided by the Office of Industrial Relations including a Safe Work Australia Six Month update and an update on Strategic Communications, data and policy activities.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday, 18 March 2026.

ISSC secretariat | Email: oirboardsandcommittees@oir.qld.gov.au