Rachael, in partnership with her husband Hayden, incorporated health and safety into their own dairy farming business in New Zealand. Sharemilking 730 cows, before continuing their journey in Australia, where they purchased and developed their first dairy farm in 2008.
Growing up on farm, Rachael believes Health and Safety and Human Resource Management go hand in hand to create a collaborative, safe, and fun environment for everyone, including outside contractors and service providers. Grow Dairy HR Pty Ltd is Rachael’s Company that she has been running since 2015.
1. What is your favourite thing to do when you’re not working?
My absolute favourite thing to do when I am not working is watch our daughters play A grade netball. Also love to spend time with my husband, (which is not very often as we both work crazy hours) Also enjoy walking our dogs – 85kg Zeus (Saint Bernard) and 70kg, Pepper (Great Dane), Actually I lie, as the majority of the time they walk me!
2. Do you have any hidden talents?
Well I do have my Medium Rigid Truck Licence – wouldn’t say it was a talent, but I can drive it (not quite to my husband’s standards – but hey, I can do it!). So my next goal is Heavy Rigid Combination and then I can help my husband and we can do two up and see Australia!
3. What’s the most exciting part of your job?
The most exciting part of my job is helping people and having great discussions about all aspects of their business. Trust is a huge part of the farming community and my clients truly trust me as they know I have, and can, literally walk in their gumboots!
4. What motivates you at work?
People motivate me to work. I love to see growth and extension in all aspects of my work and community, including myself, you can never stop learning. In my opinion People Management is the most rewarding career in the world.
5. What’s something you find challenging about your work
The challenges I find in my work is that I do not have enough hours in the day. I live to work, not work to live.
6. Where do you suggest farmers start when it comes to health and safety?
As Farmers we need to start with the high risk areas first – identify high risk as a team (everyone has a different perspective of high risk, a farmer who has been farming for 30 years has a total different opinion on what is safe and what is not!). Prioritise these areas and make an action plan together as a team to rectify. Then start on the medium risk and low risk hazards. Health and Safety is a continual process. ‘Fresh eyes’ are awesome when it comes to health and safety – utilise your career changers or new employees to give their input and opinion on what is safe and collaborate to make this hazard safe for them.
Topics: Find a Consultant
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Learn how Rachael's consultancy services assist small to medium businesses develop systems and processes for compliance. Based in Victoria, Australia, find out how she can help your agribusiness succeed at Grow Dairy HR Pty Ltd.
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