Industry Recovery and Resilience Officer program

Recovery from natural disasters

Find support for agribusiness after flooding and cyclones.

About the program

The Industry Recovery and Resilience Officer (IRRO) program provides specialised medium-term and long-term recovery support to primary producers.

The program supports primary producers and their communities to recover from natural disasters and better prepare for future disasters.

It can help you:

  • access financial support and plan your recovery
  • develop strategies to mitigate risk to your farm businesses
  • better understand climate risks
  • build resilience to the impacts of future climate-driven events such as floods, bushfires and drought by developing
  • access personal and mental health support.

Our support includes direct face-to-face consultation and assistance across all primary production industries.

The IRRO program, recovery loans and grants are jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Current targeted support

Our program supports producers impacted by:

Assistance to plan and grow your farm business

The Farm Business Resilience Program helps Queensland primary producers grow stronger, more profitable and productive businesses.

The free program gives you the opportunity to:

  • discover ways to boost productivity and profitability
  • engage in peer-to-peer learning
  • improve decision-making and risk management
  • identify opportunities to innovate and grow
  • consider climate forecasts and plan ahead
  • create a tailored Farm Business Resilience Plan for your business.

Find your local officer

IRROs in Queensland are contracted by industry to support primary producers recovering from the impacts of natural disasters.

  • Jed Sommerfield

    Jed is passionate about supporting regional communities in Western Queensland. Growing up on his family's sheep and cattle property between Charleville and Adavale, he understands the challenges graziers face and is committed to providing practical and tailored support.

    Jed helps producers access disaster recovery assistance, provides guidance on rebuilding exclusion fencing, and links them to programs that enhance resilience. He is currently focusing on the Exclusion Fence Recovery Grants program.

    With a Bachelor of Applied Science (Animal Production/Rangeland Management) from the University of Queensland (Gatton) and diverse industry experience, Jed is well-equipped to help producers recover and plan for the future.

    Jed is employed by the Department of Primary Industries.

  • Emma Hay

    Emma Hay supports communities across Central Western Queensland with a focus on the local government areas of Barcaldine, Barcoo, Boulia, Diamantina, Longreach and Winton.

    A proud Aramac local for over 20 years, Emma is also a primary producer, giving her genuine firsthand insight into rural life and the real impacts disasters have on families, farms and communities. Emma brings practical skills and a solutions-focused approach developed through her background in finance and business management.

    Emma works closely with producers to develop Farm Business Resilience Plans, strengthen disaster preparedness and recovery planning, and support informed decision-making to build stronger, enduring farming enterprises and rural communities.

    Emma also collaborates with local governments, community groups, mental health services and natural resource management groups to promote and support the long-term needs of the local area.

    Emma is employed by Remote Area Planning and Development Board.

    Celeste Ogg

    Celeste is based in Longreach, supporting producers and communities across Central Western Queensland.

    With a strong background in agriculture and regional engagement, Celeste brings both practical and professional experience to the role. She has previously worked as Regional Manager with AgForce Queensland, supporting members across Southern Inland Queensland through extension activities, events and stakeholder engagement.

    Prior to this, she worked as an Animal Science Technical Officer with the previous Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in Charters Towers, contributing to research and extension projects focused on livestock production, pasture management and land condition.

    Celeste holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Honours) from the University of Queensland and is currently completing a Master of Economics (Agribusiness).

    Having grown up on a family sheep station near Hughenden, she has a strong connection to the land and a firsthand understanding of the challenges facing rural businesses, including drought, flooding and climate variability.

    Celeste is employed by Remote Area Planning and Development Board.

  • Andrew O'Dea

    Andrew supports primary producers in the Maranoa, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Toowoomba and Western Downs regions.

    Andrew is passionate about family farming and regenerative agriculture. He takes a proactive approach to managing farming enterprises in a challenging climate. With firsthand experience managing drought, floods and bushfires, he is committed to helping primary producers develop effective strategies to manage these events.

    Andrew is a fifth-generation grazier from the Southern Downs with a degree in Agribusiness from the University of Queensland (Gatton).

    His background in rural finance and commercial lending has given him deep insight into the financial and operational aspects of agribusiness.

    Andrew is employed by Rural Solutions Queensland.

    Sarah Due

    Sarah is based in Mt Stanley and she supports primary producers in Maranoa, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Toowoomba and Western Downs.

    Sarah is passionate about regional Queensland's agricultural sector and is dedicated to supporting primary producers in improving sustainability. She is committed to helping farmers recover from drought, natural disasters and other challenges, while also facilitating medium-term recovery and long-term resilience in farm businesses.

    Originally from Western Queensland, Sarah grew up working on her family's property near Cheepie (between Charleville and Quilpie), where her family ran sheep and cattle. She and her husband now run a beef operation across the South Burnett and Somerset regions.

    Sarah has extensive experience across the agriculture industry, with hands-on involvement on the land and in her previous roles in industry, government and disaster recovery.

    Sarah is employed by Rural Solutions Queensland.

    Kelli Rabbitt

    Kelli is an agriculture industry and regional economic development professional with over 10 years experience supporting primary producers and regional communities to recover from disruption, adapt to change and build long-term sustainability.

    Kelli has strong roots in the Scenic Rim and has worked with more than 200 farming and agribusinesses across the region, delivering practical programs that strengthen business resilience and regional economies. Kelli takes a collaborative, relationship-driven approach, and works well with industry and local stakeholders to deliver meaningful, place-based outcomes.

    Kelli is employed by Queensland Farmers' Federation.

    Jeff Collingwood

    Jeff Collingwood supports primary producers to strengthen business resilience and recovery planning following major events. Based in Toowoomba, Jeff assists primary producers impacted by Tropical Cyclone Alfred to develop medium to long-term recovery strategies for intensive agricultural industries.

    Jeff brings extensive hands-on experience across dairy, beef, sheep, nursery and horticulture sectors. His background includes managing on-farm quality assurance programs, identifying key profit drivers to support business growth and profitability, and delivering practical solutions across ruminant nutrition, farm benchmarking, crop and pasture agronomy, and silage systems. He has also supported producers through disaster recovery, including flood-impacted dairies, and has experience managing both retail and production nurseries.

    Jeff is employed by Queensland Farmers' Federation.

  • Sarah Stevens

    Sarah Stevens is based in Mareeba and supports sugarcane growers in the Cairns, Mareeba, Tablelands, Cassowary Coast and Hinchinbrook regions, to help them recover from the impacts of disaster events.

    With over 10 years of experience in natural resource management and agricultural extension, Sarah brings extensive expertise in sustainable agriculture, community engagement and disaster recovery.

    Sarah grew up on a farming property in Victoria's Wimmera region, and her background helps her understand the challenges producers face. She is passionate about helping producers build resilience and plan for the future.

    Sarah provides tailored support to growers, including assistance with disaster recovery funding, the development of disaster management plans, and connections to programs that enhance resilience. Her work is making a meaningful difference in the lives of sugarcane growers, helping them recover, adapt and thrive in an ever-changing environment.

    Sarah Stevens is employed by CANEGROWERS.

  • Vickie Mylrea

    Vickie is based in Spyglass and supports beef producers from Townsville to Ingham.

    With over 18 years of experience in natural resource management and 6 years specialising in disaster recovery, Vickie brings extensive expertise to her role.

    Vickie is passionate about regional agriculture, having grown up in outback New South Wales and worked on pastoral properties across Northern NSW, South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory.

    Vickie developed a deep connection to the landscapes and communities of regional Australia. This personal experience drives her passion for helping producers recover from disasters and build resilience for the future.

    She enjoys working closely with producers to address challenges such as climate change, rising production costs, and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events.

    Vickie is employed by the Department of Primary Industries.

Contact

If you would like support from an IRRO, or if you have any other enquiries, please contact us online, by phone or in person.