During times of drought enormous pressures are placed on the shoulders of farmers and their families within our agricultural sector. As Queensland has been in the midst of a major drought affecting 86% of the state, QFF together with our industry members, Queensland Dairyfarmers Organisation (QDO), Growcom and Cotton Australia recently completed a community drought project conducted throughout drought affected areas. The project facilitated social events and promoted programs designed to help the community get together to talk, laugh and cry.
The Department of Communities understood the value of such a program and provided funding to allow industry to deliver these much needed events. This project contained a suite of measures to assist rural communities to manage agriculture‐related hardship in drought‐declared local government areas. This included accessing social assistance, meeting mental health needs and better managing the business risks associated with climate variability.
The project hosted a variety of social events to help farm communities maintain their social infrastructure through these dry times. Events included the Dairy Family Dinner in Oakey which had 90 farmers and kids turn up and Woman’s Picnics thrown by Cotton Australia in Jimbour and Goondiwindi with over 200 attendees at each. Through the Community Drought Support project 12 events were held throughout the state. These event reached 573 people and incorporated social inclusion, open communication and resilience building themes. Events like these were important in promoting social interaction by getting people off farm and engaging with the community during stressful times.
The community Drought Support project also incorporated the development of the farmerdisastersupport.org.au website. This website enables farmers to find localised financial assistance, social well being support and connects them with further information on news and events to help them through difficult times.
QFF thanks the Department of Communities and our industry member organisations for their co-operation in making this project to be a success it was.