9 Dec 2025
From 28 October until 5 November, trainees from the Agricultural Extension Work Placement Program (AEWPP) completed their mid-term workshop and cross industry regional bus tour. The journey took them from Theodore to Ayr, giving them a first-hand look at the scale, diversity and innovation that underscores extension support across Queensland’s agriculture.
The AEWPP places early-career extension professionals with host agribusinesses across the Great Barrier Reef catchments to build hands-on skills and industry readiness. The current cohort of eight trainees began in February 2025 and will complete their placements in May 2026.
This year’s host organisations include Dawson Catchment Coordinating Association (DACC), Farmacist, Reef Catchments, Burdekin Productivity Services (BPS) and Mackay Area Productivity Services (MAPS).
The tour aims to build confidence, capability, and industry awareness among early-career extension officers. It also provides an opportunity for each trainee to showcase their region, host organisation and the projects they have been working on.
Over the week, participants visited farms, research centres, processing facilities and regional organisations across Central Queensland, Mackay Whitsunday and the Burdekin, gaining exposure to a range of agricultural industries including beef, aquaculture, cotton, sugar, grains and horticulture.
The tour began in Rockhampton with a full-day workshop hosted at the Fitzroy Basin Association’s (FBA) Flow Centre. The mid-term workshop allowed all trainees to present to their peers and mentors on their experiences in their host organisations so far. This included new skills learnt across their industries, challenges overcome with immersing themselves in new regions and highlights from their participation in program training and networking events.
The workshop then led into ‘on the ground’ showcases as trainees departed Rockhampton on the bus tour, travelling to each trainee’s region from Theodore to Mackay, Proserpine and Ayr.
L to R Suzie Jones (Farmacist, Mackay), Kate Aldridge (Farmacist, Ayr), Abigail Johnson (Dawson Catchment Coordinating Association, Theodore), Teagan Schermer (Reef Catchments, Proserpine), Anna Greenland (Burdekin Productivity Services, Ayr), Maggie Bath (Mackay Area Productivity Services), Adam Knapp (QFF General Manager Policy & Projects), Chloe Paviour (Dawson Catchment Coordinating Association, Theodore).
Highlights marking the start of the tour included a visit to the Rockhampton State High School Aquaculture Centre, and the Central Queensland Livestock Exchange during the weekly live cattle sale. The group then travelled through properties around Theodore, showcasing cattle farming and cotton production, before finishing the tour with a sunset cruise on the Dawson River. Throughout the week, participants reflected on the value of seeing the inner workings of industries beyond their own. Many noted that the experience broadened their understanding of Queensland’s interconnected food and fiber systems and emphasised the importance of strong regional partnerships. The visit to the Rockhampton State High School Aquaculture Centre stood out as a reminder of how early engagement.
L to R: Adam Knapp (QFF General Manager Policy & Projects), Collis Holloway (Science and Agriculture, Rockhampton SHS Aquacaluture Facility), Eloise Cosgrove (QFF Project Manager – Graduate Programs), Abigail Johnson (Dawson Catchment Coordinating Association, Theodore), Kate Aldridge (Farmacist, Ayr), Anna Greenland (Burdekin Productivity Services, Ayr), Chloe Paviour ((Dawson Catchment Coordinating Association, Theodore), Suzie Jones (Farmacist, Mackay),Teagan Schermer (Reef Catchments, Proserpine),Maggie Bath (Mackay Area Productivity Services).
These experiences gave the group a strong insight into market chain operations, grazing and irrigation systems, water use irrigation and efficiency, as well as a strong introduction to the diversity of the Central Queensland agriculture sector.
The Mackay Whitsunday leg of the trip provided a detailed look at the sugar industry. Trainees observed Ratoon Stunting Disease sampling demonstrations and gained insights into disease surveillance and early detection in cane production. A tour of Mackay Area Productivity Services (MAPS) hot water treatment facility demonstrated the commitment to supporting their growers and the greater Queensland cane industry from costly disease outbreaks.
L to R: Eloise Cosgrove (QFF Project Manager – Graduate Programs),Maggie Bath (Mackay Area Productivity Services), Kate Aldridge (Farmacist, Ayr), Abigail Johnson (Dawson Catchment Coordinating Association, Theodore), Anna Greenland (Burdekin Productivity Services, Ayr), Suzie Jones (Farmacist, Mackay), Chloe Paviour ((Dawson Catchment Coordinating Association, Theodore), Joel Faulkner (Farmacist Mackay), Teagan Schermer (Reef Catchments, Proserpine) (Image courtesy Canegrowers).
Property visits with Farmacist, provided an opportunity for trainees to highlight trial work they are involved in. The sunflower and sunn hemp trials offer insights into agronomic processes across various crop types and stages, soil and plant health, and also extension approaches.
The tour concluded in Ayr with visits to Regen Aqua, a mungbean trial site with Farmacist, Wilmar’s Inkerman Mill, which was another major highlight for the trainees, and Sugar Research Australia. These final stops showcased innovation in water management, integrated farming systems, milling operations and the research driving improvement in cane varieties across the sugar industry.
Throughout the trip, trainees strengthened their networks, expanded their technical understanding and deepened their appreciation for the challenges and opportunities across Queensland’s agricultural industries. The experience reinforced the value of hands-on learning and cross-industry exposure in developing confident, capable extension professionals.
AEWPP Program Coordinator Eloise Cosgrove said the regional immersion experience remains a cornerstone of the program, helping trainees build the practical understanding and broader perspective they need to support Queensland producers now and into the future. It was also positive to see trainees demonstrate the technical skills and industry insights they have gained through the program, and too, their passion for the industry.
The AEWPP is funded through the Queensland Government’s Queensland Reef Water Quality Program) and is delivered by the Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) in partnership with host organisations.