TNQ Drought Hub
James Cook University Australia
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Programs

The TNQ Drought Hub will deliver the following Programs and their activities to help build drought resilience and preparedness across the TNQ region.

Building Human Capacity

Strengthening drought preparedness and resilience of the Tropical North Queensland region by developing practical skills, networks, and knowledge within communities, industry, and the next generation of leaders. Led by Jane Oorschot

Innovation and Commercialisation

Accelerating the adoption of practical, effective AgTech and decision-support tools that build more innovative, resilient and productive farming businesses. Led by Kara-Glenn Worth

Sustainable Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Enterprise

Empowering First Nations communities, councils, and businesses to build resilience against drought and climate impacts through sustainable livelihoods. Led by Jim Turnour

Transformational Agricultural Systems

Transforming agricultural enterprises to build resilience through the adoption of productive, sustainable and collaborative climate-resilient practices. Led by Kara-Glenn Worth

The TNQ Drought Hub is dedicated to building drought resilience through collaboration, connection, and accountability.

We partner with Natural Resource Management groups, industry, government, regional organisations, private enterprises and universities to deliver projects that strengthen drought preparedness and resilience across northern Queensland. These partnerships support the three pillars of resilience (Social and Cultural, Economic and Environmental) and help us achieve the six outcomes that guide our work. Our strategic approach combines leading initiatives, supporting partners, and fostering networks that drive meaningful outcomes for communities and producers.

Connection is central to how we operate. Through our network of Drought Resilience Coordinators and Adoption Officers we share knowledge, listen to local experiences, and connect people with tools and resources at forums, conferences, and other outreach activities. This exchange of information helps communities, producers and partners stay informed and better prepared.

Across sectors and internally, we maintain strong collaboration through Communities of Practice and ongoing communication to ensure alignment, shared learning and a localised approach to resilience. Robust governance and reporting frameworks underpin our transparency, accountability and continuous improvement.

Together, these foundations enable the hub to support resilience across TNQ and empower communities to strengthen their own future readiness.

Other Projects and Funding

Regional Soils Coordinator

Australia's Regional Soils Coordinators help build climate resilience in agricultural landscapes by ensuring that soil health underpins productivity and environmental stewardship. Led by Dhiraj Gajera

Adoption Officers

Adoption Officers work with farmers and their communities to pick up innovative tools and practices to build drought-resilient businesses.

Agricultural Innovation Hub

The Agricultural Innovation Hub Program supported the uptake of innovation by producers while motivating and encouraging collaboration in the agricultural innovation system.

Managing Rangelands for Drought Resilience

Working with landholders, Southern Gulf NRM, MaxusAI and James Cook University, the TNQ Drought Hub project aimed to develop and test an approach to rapidly quantify the amount and distribution of Mitchell grass tussocks across a range of grazing land types in north-west Queensland, using high-resolution drone imagery and artificial intelligence.

TNQ Drought Resilience Grants

We have funded nearly $350,000 for projects through our Tropical North Queensland Drought Resilience grants scheme that will demonstrate tangible benefits to one or more of the TNQ Drought Hub Priority Issues.

Building Human Capacity

Strengthening drought preparedness and resilience of the Tropical North Queensland region by developing practical skills, networks, and knowledge within communities, industry, and the next generation of leaders. Led by Jane Oorschot

Coordination and Outreach

Building strong relationships, fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing and strategic alignment between farmers, researchers, industry, and communities to enhance drought resilience and agricultural sustainability in Tropical North Queensland.

Innovation and Commercialisation

Accelerating the adoption of practical, effective AgTech and decision-support tools that build more innovative, resilient and productive farming businesses. Led by Kara-Glenn Worth

Regional Soils Coordinator

Australia's Regional Soils Coordinators help build climate resilience in agricultural landscapes by ensuring that soil health underpins productivity and environmental stewardship. Led by Dhiraj Gajera

Sustainable Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Enterprise

Empowering First Nations communities, councils, and businesses to build resilience against drought and climate impacts through sustainable livelihoods. Led by Jim Turnour

Transformational Agricultural Systems

Transforming agricultural enterprises to build resilience through the adoption of productive, sustainable and collaborative climate-resilient practices. Led by Kara-Glenn Worth

Sustainable Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Enterprise

Jim Turnour

Building Human Capacity

Jane Oorschot

Agricultural Innovation and Commercialisation

Kara-Glenn Worth

Transformational Agricultural Systems

Kara-Glenn Worth

Coordination and Outreach