Queensland grazier honoured for melanoma awareness work

A fifth-generation Queensland grazier has been recognised for her advocacy against skin cancer in rural communities, winning the 2026 Queensland AgriFutures Rural Women's Award.

Angie Nisbet's commitment to sun safety stems from deeply personal tragedy: the loss of her best friend to skin cancer and her sister Shona Larkin's stage two melanoma diagnosis. These experiences prompted her to take action within Australia's farming sector, where outdoor workers face disproportionate exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

From grief to innovation

Rather than simply raising awareness, Ms Nisbet and her sister channelled their experience into practical solutions. Together, they co-founded FarmHer Hands, a business producing colourful UPF 50+ sun-safe gloves specifically designed for farmers.

"I lost my best friend to skin cancer, so we just saw such screaming alarm bells that there needed to be something done," Ms Nisbet said.

The venture addresses a critical gap in occupational health within agriculture. Australian farmers, particularly those in livestock grazing, spend extensive hours in direct sunlight with limited protection infrastructure. Melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers remain among the most common malignancies affecting rural workers, yet preventative solutions tailored to farming conditions have been scarce.

Recognition at national level

The AgriFutures award recognises Ms Nisbet's dual achievement: her advocacy work promoting skin-cancer awareness in farming communities, and the commercial innovation of FarmHer Hands. As a mother of three managing a grazing operation, she has balanced entrepreneurship with agricultural leadership.

Ms Nisbet will now represent Queensland at the national AgriFutures Rural Women's Award programme, where she will compete against award winners from other states and territories. The national awards programme celebrates women driving innovation, sustainability, and social change across Australia's agricultural sector.

Broader implications for rural health

The recognition underscores growing attention to occupational health disparities in rural Australia. Farm workers often lack access to the same workplace health and safety protections available in urban sectors, despite facing cumulative sun exposure that dramatically increases skin cancer risk over a working lifetime.

FarmHer Hands represents an emerging category of rural health solutions: products designed specifically for farming conditions rather than generic sun protection. The business model also supports rural entrepreneurship, particularly initiatives led by women in agriculture.

Source: ABC News