TNQ Drought Hub
James Cook University Australia
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Program: Building Human Capacity

Program Goal

Strengthening drought preparedness and resilience in Tropical North Queensland begins with people. Through the Building Human Capacity program, we’re supporting communities, industry, and future leaders to develop practical skills, grow networks, and share knowledge that can be put into action on the ground.

Through mapping regional networks, capturing expert knowledge, facilitating stakeholder collaboration, and supporting student research, these activities ensure producers, extension officers, and future leaders are equipped with the tools, connections, and insights needed to make informed decisions and build resilient, productive landscapes for the future.

Featured Projects

TNQ Service Linking Platform

Map linkages between services, organisations and grassroots groups to help identify duplication of services and areas where delivery is lacking, ultimately enabling more efficient design and development of drought preparedness initiatives.
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Student Scholarships

The TNQ Drought Hub is encouraging and supporting honours students through scholarships (full time and top-up) to conduct regionally focused drought resilience projects that will build academic knowledge in the agricultural sector.
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Leaving a Legacy of Improved Land Condition

To capture and translate the expertise of two retiring industry leaders into practical training resources for improving land condition in the beef industry, supporting drought resilience.
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Identifying User Needs of Grazing Land Condition Information in TNQ

To understand and address the information needs of stakeholders for assessing trends, drivers, and management of grazing land condition to build drought resilience in the beef industry.
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Industry Experts Video Series

This series explores the careers of experts from across the agriculture sector. The videos cover their wealth of knowledge and ability to empower land managers and industry to make future focused decisions.
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Impactful Careers Video Series

This series showcases two remarkable women who have built successful, long-term careers in agriculture right here in North Queensland. The women prove that agriculture is about much more than farming, it’s about transforming ideas into impact.
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Extension Resources

These resources have been developed to support extension development, career pathways and training needs.
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Education, Leadership and Capacity Building Pathways

The future of drought resilience in Tropical North Queensland lies in developing local capacity and supporting the next generation of leaders. In partnership with our Nodes, existing organisations and programs, we’re helping students and emerging leaders build the skills, confidence, and networks they need to guide their businesses and communities through drought and climate challenges.

From funding student-led research aligned with regional priorities, to raising awareness of agricultural careers and supporting rural students to stay in the regions, we are investing in practical pathways for the future. We are also developing collaborative extension resources and delivering targeted training in remote areas, removing barriers and building local capacity where it’s needed most.

Succession, Governance & Financial Literacy Forums and Workshops

Drought resilience starts with the right skills. Across Tropical North Queensland, we’re working collaboratively with Node partners, producers, communities, and industry to deliver targeted, practical training that supports sustainable, productive farming and land management under changing conditions.

These activities cover areas such as business and financial management, governance, digital literacy, and succession planning to help producers use data to make informed decisions while navigate change and maintaining business viability – ensuring practical knowledge translates into action on the ground.

Delivering these opportunities locally often involves overcome logistical barries due to the rural and remote nature of much of our region, but by bringing them to places where they are needed most, we are ensuing these communities are better prepared to manage change and build resilience.

Management Committee Member Quick Reference Guide Resource

This Management Committee Member’s Quick Reference Guide has been developed by the TNQ Drought Hub in collaboration with Get on Board Australia to provide a guide on the key aspects of committee membership.

Download your copy.

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Building Human Capacity Overview

Each program has several activities or themes that various projects will be delivered through.

Educational Pathways and Industry Placements

Education and industry opportunities will grow capability across the sector increasing the pipeline of talent for current and future opportunities. Activities include:

  • Delivering a School to Industry Partnership Program where secondary students can apply to undertake a three-day intensive tour of agribusinesses in their region.

  • Delivering a JCU Work Integrated Learning Programs through TNQ Hub Nodes where undergraduate and postgraduate students can apply their learnings in a real-world professional environment.

  • Building networks and relationships with training, educational, and extension organisations to contribute to educational pathways and identify opportunities to increase practical competencies.

  • Offering TNQ Hub scholarships (full time and top-up) that are more regionally focused approach and will build academic knowledge in the agricultural sector. 

Governance & Financial Literacy

Increased Governance and Financial literacy will contribute to the building of community capacity and strengthen their wellbeing and social capital. Activities include:

  • Delivering a governance and a regional financial skills workshop through industry partners to build community capability.

  • Exploring opportunities to upskill small business or enterprise skills to increase community capability.

Succession Planning and Leadership Skills

Building leadership capability in the sector will enable better business decisions and improve people management skills. Activities include:

  • Delivering a regional leadership program to build community capability, resilience and adaptability, and future focused decision making.
Accessible Information & Data Analysis
  • Contribute to building inherent skills and capability by increasing awareness of available programs and tools to enable more future focused decision making. Activities include:
  • Delivering a stakeholder training workshop or forum with sessions from services such as Climate Mates, LongPaddock and Climate Services for Agriculture.
  • Developing training materials and information videos with industry experts to increase adoption behaviours. 
Social and Behavioural Change

Identify potential opportunities in existing resilience programs. Activities include:

  • Engaging with GrazingFutures Livestock Business Resilience Program to identify gaps and potential future opportunities to support decision making and build economic resilience in the region.

Jane Oorschot

Program Lead

Jane has extensive experience in human resource management, has held both technical and managerial roles in the public and private sectors, and has been a Senior Lecturer for several years. Jane’s recent PhD explored the psychological contract, leadership, and employee engagement.

Jane’s skills will support the development of programs to enhance work skills through micro-credentials, industry research internships and other learning and developmental opportunities across the TNQ region.