The state government is working with Kidsafe Victoria to deliver farm safety education to early learning centres and primary schools.
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Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas has launched the second annual Kidsafe Victoria Farm Safety Creative Competition.
"Farms are unique environments which are often both a workplace and a home," Ms Thomas said.
"The Farm Safety Creative Competition is encouraging future generations of Victorian farmers to take an active role in developing and promoting farm safety messages."
Kidsafe Victoria General Manager Jason Chambers said while it was important to remember farms could be wonderful places for children to visit and grow up, everyone had a role to play in preventing serious injuries and deaths.
The theme for this year's competition 'Think Farm Safe, Be Farm Safe,' is about teaching children to ensure that safety is always front of mind.
The competition provides children with the opportunity to take an active role in investigating farm safety issues.
Participants can submit a video they have created, an illustrated story, poster or collage, a radio advertisement, or an invention.
The winning entries will feature in a state-wide farm safety education campaign designed to increase farm safety awareness among Victorian parents and carers.
According to the Victorian Injury Surveillance Unit, children under the age of 15 in Victoria's outer regional areas are four times more likely to die due to injury than children in major cities.
In 2019-20, almost 400 Victorian children under the age of 15 were treated in hospital as a result of an injury on farm.
Common injury hazards for children on farms include vehicles such as quad bikes, motorbikes and tractors, accidents involving animals, water hazards, machinery and poisons.
The Farm Safety in Schools Campaign and Creative Competition is funded by Smarter, Safer Farms, a $20 million government initiative to improve safety outcomes for Victorian farmers, their families, farm workers and visitors.
For more information on the Kidsafe Victoria's Farm Safety Creative Competition and other learning resources, visit the Kidsafe Victoria website, with entries open until November 5, 2021.
