This project helps farmers in the Great Barrier Reef catchments improve sustainability, build skills, and strengthen networks to support better water quality outcomes.
What we do
This project aims to:
- build capacity of extension services and farmer peer-to-peer groups and networks
- build confidence and capability in farming communities
- enable changes that will achieve financial, social, and environmental sustainability and improve Reef Water Quality outcomes.
To reach these goals we:
- facilitate cross-regional events for extension staff to network, share and learn together
- improve the skills of extension and advisory staff by providing information, training and development workshops
- provide funding for farming peer-to-peer group activities
- provide information, resources, training and networking opportunities for farmer peer-to-peer groups in the sugarcane, grazing, horticulture, bananas and grains industries in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) catchment area
- provide resources and advice to help farmers start up new peer-to-peer groups
- support regional and cross-regional events for farmers to learn about improved practices from other farmers.
Benefits of the project
Local farmer groups can give farmers the opportunity to:
- discuss how new practices and technologies worked for them
- help each other understand innovative technologies and solve related practical issues.
What’s next
The team:
- developed eLearning modules to supplement face-to-face and online training
- held a Reef Extension Think Tank in 2024, 2 mini Reef Extension Think Tanks in 2025, and will hold another major event in 2026:
- these events promote networking and cross-regional learning amongst extension and advisory staff
- the Think Tank in 2024 was held in Townsville, attracting over 85 extension staff working across industries in the Reef catchments
- will offer a range of extension training workshops (face-to-face and online)
- will provide funding to support eligible projects for farmer groups (email RP84Admin@dpi.qld.gov.au for copies of the funding guideline, application form and further information)
- will support regional events hosted by farmer peer-to-peer groups across the Reef catchments.
More information
- Subscribe to updates on new initiatives and funding opportunities.
- Register for training courses and workshops.
Last updated: 22 May 2026