CHRRUP

CHRRUP CHRRUP is a not-for-profit organisation that is passionate about creating thriving, connected rural communities across Central and Western Qld.

Our mission is to connect people with the resources they need to enhance agricultural enterprises and we do by partnering with key stakeholders, delivering a wide range of projects and services and engaging with a broad range of sectors within these communities. Based in Queensland's Central Highlands region and formed in 2001, CHRRUP has a strong track record of involvement in community engagemen

t and planning processes, providing access to information and training, and delivering projects to support on-ground business outcomes. We are proudly a profit-for-purpose organisation which means we reinvest in community & industry outcomes.

31/08/2026

For Week 15 of our 25 Years series, we take a step back in time with Gail, who played an important role in CHRRUP’s journey.

Reflecting on her time with CHRRUP, Gail shares insights into the organisation’s early days, its cooperative foundations and how it grew from a small team into an organisation delivering projects and creating impact across Central and Western Queensland.

From developing natural resource management plans and engaging with landholders, industry and community stakeholders to growing a team and delivering projects on the ground, this conversation highlights the people, partnerships and community connections that helped shape CHRRUP.

Most importantly, it is a reminder that CHRRUP’s journey has always been about people, collaboration and creating meaningful outcomes for the region.

As we look towards the future, we continue to build on that strong foundation and the commitment of those who have helped shape CHRRUP over the past 25 years.

Watch Week 15 to hear Gail reflect on CHRRUP’s growth journey and the people behind it.

Our latest newsletter is now live.This edition highlights regional collaboration, the next phase of the RFRT sprints and...
28/08/2026

Our latest newsletter is now live.

This edition highlights regional collaboration, the next phase of the RFRT sprints and strengthening pathways into agriculture through LEADAg.

Discover the latest updates on workforce development, regional partnerships, leadership and opportunities for young people across Central and Western Queensland.

Read more here 👉https://www.chrrup.org.au/so/cbQ0s2AY8?languageTag=en

Got an idea you’ve been sitting on - or a problem you know needs a better solution?The Everyday Innovator Framework is a...
26/08/2026

Got an idea you’ve been sitting on - or a problem you know needs a better solution?

The Everyday Innovator Framework is a practical program designed to help producers and regional innovators build the confidence, tools and connections to turn ideas into action.

You don’t need a fully formed idea, a business plan or a tech background. The framework takes you through a practical process to:

• identify opportunities and define the real problem
• explore possible pathways and test ideas
• understand what’s involved before committing
• leave with clear next steps and the confidence to act

It’s designed for producers, regional innovators, advisors and service providers who want practical skills they can apply to real challenges in their business, industry or community.

Two cohorts are now open:

💻 Virtual Cohort
Commencing Tuesday 1 September
Three consecutive Tuesdays

📍 Western Cohort - Longreach
Thursday 17 September
In-person workshop

Places are limited.

Register now: ruralenabler.au/events

24/08/2026

As we mark 25 years of CHRRUP, this week we continue our conversation with Professor Allan Dale, reflecting on CHRRUP’s early role in bringing people, sectors and government together to work through complex regional challenges.

From water allocation and competing interests to building trust in data and planning, Allan shares how CHRRUP helped create a safe and collaborative space where different perspectives could come together to find solutions.

One of the lasting legacies was the recognition that strong regions need strong backbone organisations, connecting environmental, social, economic and community interests to help unlock regional opportunity.

Looking ahead, Allan sees enormous potential for Central Highlands, with opportunities to strengthen our economy, environment and communities through collaboration and coordinated regional development.

His message is as relevant today as it was 25 years ago: bringing people together creates the foundations for lasting regional impact.

Watch Week 14 of our 25 Years for 25 Weeks series and hear more from Allan about CHRRUP’s legacy, the opportunities ahead and the importance of continuing to work together.

What do you see as the biggest opportunity for the Central Highlands over the next 25 years? Share your thoughts with us.

Our Business Support Officer, Sarah, attended the GRDC Farm Business Update, Filling your silo: Staying clear-headed thr...
21/08/2026

Our Business Support Officer, Sarah, attended the GRDC Farm Business Update, Filling your silo: Staying clear-headed through uncertainty online.

One of the key sessions focused on farming stress, resilience and wellbeing with agricultural psychologist Steph Schmidt, who also brings 20 years of lived experience as a farmer and farmer's wife.

A particularly powerful concept was the “well-being silo”. Just as farmers maintain reserves of seed, we also need to maintain our own reserves so we are not continually operating on empty.

The session highlighted the importance of recognising the signs that our silo may be running low, including fatigue, irritability, withdrawal and changes in sleep or behaviour. It also encouraged farmers to identify their “fillers” and “drainers”, focusing our energy on what we can control or influence.

Stress and uncertainty are part of farming. Building the capacity to navigate them, rather than trying to eliminate them, is an important part of resilience.

There was also a valuable reminder for agricultural advisers and those working alongside producers. Sometimes our role is simply to notice when someone may be struggling, open a conversation and help connect them with appropriate support.

“We can't sow from an empty silo.”

A massive thank you to Steph Schmidt - Farm.Life.Psych and the Grains Research and Development Corporation team for such an informative and insightful event and for creating space for these important conversations around farming stress, resilience and wellbeing.

This is a practical framework that has strong potential to support future conversations around producer capability, resilience and regional wellbeing.

Yesterday, the LEADAg Working Group came together for another valuable workshop, sharing ideas and perspectives on how L...
21/08/2026

Yesterday, the LEADAg Working Group came together for another valuable workshop, sharing ideas and perspectives on how LEADAg can help shape the future of agriculture and the people who will drive it.

One key theme was the importance of more agricultural exposure in schools. Giving young people opportunities to experience agriculture early can help them discover the incredible diversity of careers and pathways available.

Agriculture has opportunities for all kinds of strengths and interests, whether you thrive working with your hands, your head or both.

Are you a school or educational institution interested in connecting your students with agriculture? We’d love to hear from you. We can explore career pathways, industry opportunities, where our food comes from and ways to bring real-world agricultural experiences into the classroom.

We’re excited to turn the ideas from this workshop into action over the coming months.

A huge thank you to everyone who continues to give their time, knowledge and energy to LEADAg and help shape what comes next.

Want to learn more about LEADAg?
Visit: www.chrrup.org.au/leadag
Email: [email protected]

We’d love to connect with you.

Mark your calendars 👇
20/08/2026

Mark your calendars 👇

Today, the Regional Futures Round Table members came together, both face-to-face and online, to review the latest sprint...
19/08/2026

Today, the Regional Futures Round Table members came together, both face-to-face and online, to review the latest sprint playbacks and hear directly from the working group leads.

Each group presented a five-minute playback to the members, sharing their vision, recommendations and thinking around whether the Regional Futures Round Table has a role to play, why that role matters and what potential pathways could look like for each of the visions and projects highlighted through previous meetings.

We were also pleased to welcome special guest Jody Graham from Rubbercycle, who presented her rubber recycling project to the group, sharing an innovative initiative that highlights the potential for practical regional solutions and collaboration.

The group then had the opportunity to provide feedback, challenge ideas and explore what could be realistically progressed.

The Round Table has now officially moved beyond the initial brainstorming and formation phase and into the doing phase.

The next step? Turning ideas into action.

The Round Table is now formally prioritising the opportunities and pathways with the strongest potential to move forward into the next phase of ex*****on, activating the 2056 Roadmap with a clear, long-term vision for a wealthy, diversified and sovereign region.

This is where collaboration becomes action and regional vision starts becoming a practical roadmap for the future.

A massive thank you to all our Round Table members for their contribution over the past few months to pull this together. It has been a mammoth effort from everyone involved and the commitment, ideas and collaboration have been instrumental in getting us to this point.

Thank you to Jason Ross, Nigel Burnett, Trish Hawkins, Christine Rolfe, Peter Dowling and Jess Davison from Central Highlands Development Corporation, Gerry Huston from CH CoLab Emerald QLD, Delwar Akbar CQUniversity Australia, Garry Scanlan, Monique Evans from Queensland Department of Education, Caitlyn Hewitt Hewitt Consulting & Communications Ashton Ingerson and Tom Cobcroft from M Resources

Watch this space for future updates as these opportunities continue to take shape.

17/08/2026

For Week 13 of our 25 Years of 25 Weeks series, Justine chats with Kerryn Piggott about Safe Station's journey and how a workplace challenge led to a new opportunity.

Back in 2016, Kerryn was looking for a better way to support workplace health and safety after an employee was hospitalised following a workplace accident. At the time, there was not much available in the marketplace that suited smaller organisations and the connectivity and technology we have today did not exist.

Through the right conversation at the right time, Kerryn put her hand up for CHRRUP's Safe Station pilot programme.

Safe Station was designed around the needs of the business. It provided practical support, face-to-face guidance and a system that could be tailored specifically to the workplace.

As Kerryn reflects, it was not simply about buying a product. CHRRUP was there to support the business through the process, helping to develop policies and procedures and working alongside the team to make it work for them.

Fast forward to today and technology has changed significantly. Kerryn shares how she is now using AI tools to help create policies and procedures, saving time while still adapting them to suit her own workplace.

This conversation is a great reflection of something that has always been at the heart of CHRRUP, connecting people to what exists, helping them find the answers and supporting them to solve the challenges in front of them.

Watch Week 13 to hear Kerryn's Safe Station story and reflect on how far workplace health and safety technology has come.

What could be possible when we connect people with the right resources at the right time?

TODAY marks the official day CHRRUP registered as an active co-operative in 2021.25 years of connection, collaboration a...
15/08/2026

TODAY marks the official day CHRRUP registered as an active co-operative in 2021.

25 years of connection, collaboration and creating opportunities across our rural communities.

Here’s to 25 years of advancing rural communities and the journey ahead.

Address

9-13 King Street
Emerald, QLD
4720

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+61749822996

Website

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