8 July 2026
When natural disaster strikes, Queensland farmers need more than a helping hand - they need practical, on-the-ground support to recover and rebuild. QFF's Industry Recovery and Resilience Officers, Jeff Collingwood and Kelli Rabbitt, are available to provide this support.
Kelli Rabbitt
When disaster hits a farming community, recovery is rarely straightforward. For Kelli Rabbitt, QFF's Industry Recovery and Resilience Officer, supporting primary producers through that process is work she has spent more than 14 years refining.
Kelli brings deep experience delivering government-funded programs designed to help producers recover from disruption, adapt to change, and build medium to long-term sustainability. Much of that work has been rooted in the Scenic Rim, where she has worked alongside more than 200 farming and agribusinesses to strengthen both individual operations and the broader regional economy.
"It's not just about getting through the immediate aftermath," Kelli says. "It's about helping businesses come out the other side in a stronger position than before — with better plans, clearer strategies, and the connections they need to keep going."
That relationship-driven approach is central to how Kelli works. She collaborates closely with government, industry, and a wide network of stakeholders to make sure producers aren't navigating recovery alone — and that the support they receive is practical, not just well-intentioned.
Jeff Collingwood
Jeff Collingwood has spent his career working alongside farmers - on farms, through crises, and through the complex decisions that determine whether a business survives the hard times. As QFF's Industry Recovery and Resilience Officer, that experience now serves producers across disaster-impacted regions in Southern Queensland.
Jeff's background spans dairy, beef, sheep, and nursery sectors, with hands-on experience managing dairy extension teams and on-farm quality assurance programs across Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia. He has supported producers through flood recovery and prolonged drought, and brings particular depth in crop and pasture agronomy, ruminant nutrition, silage systems, and farm benchmarking.
"Every farm business is different," Jeff says. "What I'm focused on is understanding your specific situation and helping you identify the practical steps that will make a real difference - whether that's shoring up your disaster management planning or connecting you with the right technical advice."
That practical, boots-on-the-ground approach is what Jeff brings to every property visit. He works with producers to develop or update their Natural Disaster Management Plans, identify key business risks, and map out a path from immediate recovery into longer-term resilience.
Jeff and Kelli are currently available to work with primary producers impacted by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred (2025), helping businesses develop Natural Disaster Management Plans, access available grants and loans, and connect with the services they need to move from recovery into long-term resilience.
To find out more or register for a property visit from Jeff or Kelli, visit www.qff.org.au/projects/irro