Industry Recovery Program - North Queensland

While growers are no strangers to severe weather events, disaster recovery can still be a difficult time to navigate.

If you were impacted by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper, Growcom’s Industry Recovery Facilitator is here to support you. From navigating and applying for government financial support, providing referrals to services such as the Rural Financial Counsellors, or just talking through your task list and helping to make a plan.

They are your listening ear and guiding hand when you need it most.

News Room
New Farm Strong toolkit maps road through disaster to recovery
New Farm Strong toolkit maps road through disaster to recovery

When it comes to mother nature, Queenslanders tend to keep one eye on the sky and the other on the forecast. The state’s severe weather season – which extends from October through to April – can bring the full gamut of extreme weather events from heatwaves and bushfires to floods and cyclones.

Read more →
A listening ear and helping hand
A listening ear and helping hand

Far North Queensland growers are no strangers to nature’s challenges. But when Ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper swept through in late 2023, it left damage and disruption that would rattle even the most experienced farmer.

Read more →

Learn more about the project

  • The Industry Recovery and Resilience Officer (IRRO) program is a disaster recovery initiative funded by the Queensland and Australian Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

    Following Ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper, three IRROs have been appointed to support primary producers across Far North Queensland.

    One of these officers, Sarah Reynolds, is hosted by Growcom and works directly with growers to understand the challenges you’re facing, offer practical recovery advice, and support long-term planning to bounce back faster from future natural disasters.

    Sarah can also connect you with mental health and financial counselling services, help you understand what support is available, and refer you to local, state, or industry programs tailored to your needs.

  • An IRRO can support you by:

    • Talking through the damage you’ve experienced and helping you work out what to tackle first.

    • Giving you a hand to apply for disaster recovery grants or find the right assistance programs.

    • Helping you get prepared for future cyclones or weather events — so you're less exposed next time, and better prepared to access disaster recovery funding.

    • Linking you with the right people — like rural financial counsellors, or someone to talk to if you’re feeling overwhelmed.

    • Helping you make sense of government support options and what you might be eligible for.

  • Primary producers in the following Local Government Areas (LGAs) are eligible:

    • Cairns Regional Council

    • Cassowary Coast Regional Council

    • Cook Shire Regional Council

    • Douglas Shire Regional Council

    • Hinchinbrook Shire Council

    • Hope Vale Shire Council

    • Mareeba Shire Council

    • Tablelands Shire Council

    • Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council

    • Yarrabah Shire Council

  • When disaster strikes, growers have to contend with many different factors. Queensland Fruit and Vegetable Growers have brought together resources to further support you in the areas of natural disasters and mental health so you can access important information in one place.

  • IRRO assistance is available until 30 June 2026.

Contact the project team

The Industry Recovery and Resilience Officer Program is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.