Queensland’s agriculture industry will now have the SafeStation app, a new workplace health and safety tool thanks to its Digital Transformation Grant.

Under the Digital Transformation Grant, the Central Highlands Regional Resources Use Planning Cooperative (CHRRUP) would use its $38,500 funding to develop the SafeStation app, which is custom-made for clients within the agriculture industry in Central Queensland. 

The provided grant will support CHRRUP’s $78,000 project. Under this project, CHRRUP can enhance the digital skills of agriculture businesses, keep on-farm safety processes simple and practical and give employees and property owners vital safety information. 

“The grant means the SafeStation app project can be fast-tracked, and the program will have an important impact on farm safety,” Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said. 

CHRRUP’s Chief Executive Officer Simone Parker said that establishing a strong safety culture was vital for any agribusiness due to the risk of serious injuries on farms. 

“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,” CEO 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.” 

CHRRUP is currently working with owners and employees within the agricultural sector in order to tailor the SafeStation app accordingly. 

A total of $5.5 million is currently being invested by the Queensland Government through the Digital Transformation in Agribusiness Initiative and is part of the state’s COVID-19 economic recovery strategy.

The Digital Transformation in Agribusiness Initiative will help agribusinesses become digitally aware and ready to respond to future disruptions. Under this initiative, the agricultural sector will work more precisely, efficiently and sustainably by offering ways to connect producers to consumers, reduce problems related to remoteness in rural communities, and attract more people to jobs in the industry.

Minister Furner said 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 digital technologies create for the sector,” he said. 

Under the co-investment model of the program, grants of up to $200,000 were offered for projects that would enhance digital skills, drive business efficiencies and create regional jobs across Queensland. 

The approved grants will be distributed for projects that use a range of technologies such as the Internet of Things, cloud computing, intelligent apps, big data, automation, artificial intelligence and sensors.

Eliza Sayon

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Eliza is a content producer and editor at Public Spectrum. She is an experienced writer on topics related to the government and to the public, as well as stories that uplift and improve the community.

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