Students at Eagle Junction State School in Clayfield were front and centre on 19 May when the 2027 Farm Safety Calendar competition was officially launched, calling on primary school students across the state to submit artwork and help spread a vital safety message.
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The competition, run by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, is open to students from Prep to Year 6 and invites them to submit artworks that reflect real farm and rural safety themes. Twelve winning entries will be selected and featured in a calendar distributed to more than 40,000 recipients statewide. Each winning student receives a $250 gift card, with an additional $500 going to their school.
Member for Clayfield Tim Nicholls noted that the farm safety message was just as relevant for city-based families as for those living regionally. “Queenslanders regularly travel to regional areas, visit farms or interact with rural environments, so knowing how to stay safe can make a real difference,” Mr Nicholls said. “Building awareness early helps ensure all young Queenslanders can recognise risks and stay safe, wherever they go.”
Helping kick things off was Riana Crehan, the V8 Supercar and sport presenter who grew up on a farm and was recently appointed as Workplace Health and Safety Queensland’s Safety Ambassador. Drawing on her own upbringing, she explained why the competition matters.
“This competition helps kids understand those risks early and encourages them to think about safety in their everyday lives, covering important topics like electrical safety, animal handling, overhead powerlines and hygiene after contact with animals,” Ms Crehan said.
The stakes behind the competition are real. According to figures cited at the launch, 22 Queenslanders lost their lives in workplace incidents between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025. Of those, five deaths occurred in the rural sector, an industry that consistently accounts for a disproportionate share of Queensland’s workplace fatalities.
Read: From Rail Line to Schoolyard: How Eagle Junction State School Took Shape in Clayfield
The competition is an established annual event that has grown considerably. The 2026 round drew a record number of entries, with more than 2,500 submissions from over 140 Queensland schools.
The competition is open until 31 August 2026. Teachers and students can find entry guidelines and downloadable resources at WorkSafe.qld.gov.au.
Published 22-May-2026
