The Central Highlands Regional Resources Use Planning Cooperative (CHRRUP), based in Queensland, has received a $38,500 Digital Transformation Grant to develop the SafeStation app, a new workplace health and safety tool for Queensland’s agriculture industry.
The SafeStation app is custom-made for the agriculture industry, mostly servicing clients in Central Queensland, according to minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner.
“These grants were established under Queensland’s Economic Recovery plan to help our agricultural industries make better use of digital technologies and access new opportunities,” Furner said.
“The COVID-19 Pandemic created serious challenges for the agriculture sector, but the Palaszczuk government has worked closely with industry to find solutions for emerging problems and stand shoulder to shoulder with our farmers.”
The grant to CHRRUP will support a $78,000 main project that will:
- Enhance the digital skills of agriculture businesses
- Keep on-farm safety processes simple and practical
- Give employees and property owners vital safety information 24/7 via smartphone or tablet.
“The grant means the SafeStation app project can be fast-tracked, and the program will have an important impact on farm safety,” Furner said.
The risk of serious injuries on farms meant that establishing a strong safety culture was vital for agribusinesses, CHRRUP chief executive officer Simone Parker said.
“With over 20 years of experience supporting the ag industry we know the challenges that farmers face when it comes to meeting their WHS responsibilities and what sort of information they need on hand to make their workplace safer,” Parker said.
“The SafeStation App allows everything from policies and safe work procedures to individual chemical and vehicle maintenance logs to be accessed quickly and simply using a smartphone or tablet.
“We work with everyone in the business from owners to employees to create a system that works for their property and tailor the app accordingly.”
A total of $5.5 million is being invested over three years through the Digital Transformation in Agribusiness Initiative.
“This funding, as part of our COVID-19 economic recovery strategy, will support agribusinesses to become digitally aware and ready to respond to future disruptions,” Furner said.
“Digital technology creates new ways of doing things that adds value to the agricultural sector by working more precisely, efficiently and sustainably.
“It offers innovative ways to connect producers to consumers, reduce problems related to remoteness in rural communities, and attract the next generation to jobs in the industry.”
There was strong interest from the industry in the first round of the Agribusiness Digital Solutions Grant Program.
“There were 22 applications received and the diversity of project proposals demonstrates the opportunities that digital technologies create for the sector,” Furner said.
“Under a co-investment model, grants of up to $200,000 were offered for projects that enhance digital skills, drive business efficiencies and create regional jobs across Queensland.
“The approved grants of $1.045 million are for projects that use a range of technologies including the Internet of Things, cloud computing, intelligent apps, big data, automation, artificial intelligence and sensors.”
For information about the Agribusiness Digital Solutions Grant Program, phone 13 25 23 or click here.