What if we treated safety not as a box to tick, but as a culture to lead?
For Rebecca Fing, this isn’t a theoretical question — it’s the heart of her life’s work. From her base in Goondiwindi, Rebecca and her team at House Paddock Training & Consulting have spent two decades helping farm families lift their game in HR, business strategy, and importantly — work health and safety.
This episode is a full-bodied conversation with someone who’s been on over 600 farms and seen it all. Rebecca doesn’t just talk compliance — she talks culture. She doesn’t just talk paperwork — she talks people.
And the urgency is real. Agriculture employs just 3% of Australia’s workforce, yet accounts for 30% of all workplace fatalities. Even more sobering — 75% of those deaths involve machinery. These aren’t just numbers. They’re reminders that safety isn’t something we can afford to “get to later.” Because what’s at stake is far too important.
In a world where the urgent often crowds out the important, she makes a powerful case for choosing safety not someday, but today.
We cover:
Rebecca speaks with the kind of clarity and conviction that only comes from lived experience. Her honesty is refreshing, her passion is contagious, and her message is simple: don’t wait for a crisis to care.
Whether you're leading a large team or running a family farm, this one will hit home. Because at the end of the day, this isn’t about rules — it’s about responsibility. And creating a farm culture where everyone gets to go home safe.
Rebecca, thank you for showing us the heart behind the how-to. For reminding us that leading with care is the most powerful form of leadership there is.
To every farm owner listening: make a start. Sloppy success, as Rebecca says, is far better than perfect procrastination.
Keep caring. Keep leading. And keep making farms safer.
Sincerely,
Jeremy Hutchings & the Farm Owners Academy Team
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