ABOUT US

Welcome to Desert Channels Queensland

We are the natural resource management (NRM) organisation for the Queensland section of the Lake Eyre Basin.

But what does that mean? Simply put, we work alongside landholders, graziers, local government, Traditional Owners and community to deliver projects that invest in our region’s soil, water, pasture and biodiversity resources. We work across 51,000,000 hectares of outback country in Southern and Central West Queensland.

Our team is experienced in weed management, feral animal control, revitalising springs, property mapping, data capture, sustainable agriculture, threatened species monitoring, improving land condition … well, you get the idea. We have a whole range of projects “on the go”, all to improve the condition of our region’s rich natural resources.

At Desert Channels, we invest. We roll up our sleeves and we get the job done.

THE BOARD

ANDREW DRYSDALE

Chair

A former Charleville district grazier, immediate past CEO of NRM Regions Queensland, current Chair of the Lake Eyre Basin Ministerial Forum Community Advisory Committee, Andrew stepped into the DCQ Chair role in November 2018.

After growing up in the Augathella district running his own place for 16 years, a fear of boarding school fees motivated him to move to Toowoomba where he carved a career in helping land managers with issues like salinity, weeds, feral animals, habitat protection and erosion control.

Equally at home in the corridors of Parliament House or around the back of a mob of sheep, Andrew is acutely aware of the challenges facing small, remote NRM organisations like DCQ.

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RACHAEL WEBSTER

Director

Rachael settled on a family station west of Longreach in the early 2000s, after an overseas travelling stint and growing up on property in Liverpool Plains in NSW. She brings decades of leadership experience across the community sector.

Rachael’s background is in public health and community development, and over the years she has worked for Queensland Health, DPI, Education Queensland and RAPAD in a range of roles. She’s interested in holistic land management and the intricate connections between different social and environmental determinants and their contribution to health and wellbeing to support thriving western Queensland communities and ecosystems.

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JOHN OGG

Director

John Ogg is a man deeply rooted in the pastoral landscapes of Western Queensland. With a life steeped in the traditions and challenges of rural Australia, John brings a blend of hands-on experience and a strong sense of commitment to the organisation.

John and his wife Helen reside in Toowoomba, yet the heartbeat of their lives reverberates from Ayrshire Downs, the family property in the Winton district that John grew up on. He travels there every few months, along with Helen, to help their sons manage the multi-property enterprise they own. For years, John worked with his brothers in the management of these properties. Five years ago he took the helm along with his sons. They operate from Ayrshire Downs, a half cattle, half sheep enterprise that is keenly looking into modest expansion into tourism and quarrying. John’s willingness to serve as a DCG director stems from his belief in the Group’s mission.

Through his new role, John Ogg hopes to give back to the community and landscape that have shaped him, saying, “All I want to see is the DCQ teams continue on doing what they’re doing. It’s a breath of fresh air to all that country out there.” With a lifetime spent in Western Queensland, John Ogg is a steward of the land in the truest sense. And as he steps into this new role at DCG, he not only brings his practical experience but also a heartfelt desire to contribute to a brighter, more sustainable future for the Desert Channels Region.

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JILL FITZGERALD

Director

Jill grew up on the land in the Barcoo Shire firstly on Lina Glen on the edge of the mitchell grass downs and later Carella in the heart of the channel country where she continues to live with her husband Ted. Carella is run as a beef producing enterprise with Santa Gertrudis and Shorthorn cattle as well as having a carbon project which blankets over half the property.

Jill has been heavily involved in the local community throughout her life being involved with local committee’s and has served time on the Barcoo Shire as a councillor during which time she was Chair of the Tourism and Community Advisory Committee and was a member of the Land, Water and Animal Management Advisory Committee.

Spending most of her life living on the banks of the Thomson River through droughts and record-breaking floods Jill is very passionate about maintaining a clean pest free catchment throughout the Lake Eyre Basin to preserve this natural asset for now and future generations. The water courses that meander through the Barcoo Shire are the lifeblood of her community; without them being in pristine condition local industries cannot survive.

Having worked alongside her husband on the land will all aspects of property life Jill is both at home and comfortable in either the paddock or the office, with her children now left home with families of their own she feels she can contribute back with local knowledge and years of experience lived and learned on the land.

What Jill is most excited about working with DCQ is her chance to work with local communities to help preserve and promote our local natural assets in a sustainable way that will endeavour to continue to preserve this fragile landscape to be a healthy ecosystem. Growth of local industries especially tourism and more nature-based industries are an area of particular interest and working with a diverse range of passionate people in the Desert Channels team.

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GEORGE GORRINGE

Director

Born in Innamincka, George then moved to Windorah where he went to school. After leaving school, he went droving. He then gained experience managing different properties around the region and worked as head stockman.

After getting married, he and his new bride managed Kihee for 5 years before moving on to manage more properties around the region.

George was a founding member of the Cooper Creek advisory committee which consisted of graziers, conservation representatives, oil and gas and irrigators. He also sat on the Cooper Creek Catchment Committee and the LEB Advisory Committee.

As a Mithaka elder, George was instrumental in setting up the Lake Eyre Basin Traditional Owner Alliance with 13 different TO groups and is still involved.

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ROD WILLIAMS

Director

Rod grew up on sheep properties in the Longreach district before commencing a career as a land valuer with the (then) Department of Lands. During this time he developed expertise in land valuation, Crown land management, rural and regional recovery programs and natural resource management initiatives.

Rod moved on to managerial positions with the Pastoral Lands Board of Western Australia and Natural Resource Committees in New South Wales and, during the height of the Coal Seam Gas expansion in the Surat Basin, he was Land Access Manager for a leading resource company.

Rod brings the knowledge of the social, economic and natural resource management challenges facing the region, and a strategic understanding of the dynamics and requirements of natural resource management organisations at the local, State and Commonwealth government levels.

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OUR TEAM

For general enquiries, phone (07) 4658 0600.

Leanne Kohler

Chief Executive Officer

Geoff Penton

Operations Manager

Doug Allpass

Sustainable Agriculture Facilitator

Roxane Blackley

Research and Development Manager

Bethany Murphy

Contract and Project Support Officer

Jana Sykorova

Monitoring and Evaluation Officer

Roshan Karki

GIS and Information Management Officer

Emma Callaghan

Media and Communications Officer

Nicki Heslin

Corporate Services Manager

Janet Woodfield

Admin and Reception

Peter Spence

Senior Project Coordinator

Matilda Paesler

Grazing Land Management Officer

Bella Knight

NRM Project Officer

Ben Pearson

NRM Project Officer

Wendy Williams

NRM Project Officer

Maria Vega

NRM Project Officer

Megan Reid

NRM Project / Field Officer

Jason Smith

Field Supervisor

Paul Daisy

Field Supervisor

Ryan Ruwhiu

Field Crew

Gus Crockett

Field Crew

Karlin Bockman

Field Crew

WORK WITH US

We offer a rewarding career and a supportive work environment that makes a difference (click to read more). From field work to community engagement, research and mapping, no two days are alike. Reach out and have a chat!

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VACANT POSITIONS

Please contact us on 07 4658 0600 to find out more.

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OUTBACK LIVING

Regional living offers a rewarding and interesting life. Check out some of the benefits.

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INCENTIVE PROGRAM

We have an excellent incentive program and a history of staff retention.

VACANT POSITION

We are currently accepting applications.

Field Crew Officer

Job Description

Desert Channels Queensland is looking to fill Field Crew positions on the DCQ Field Team.

Work on dozens of different properties, stations and sites as part of the highly-respected DCQ Field Team.
Common responsibilities include weed control, feral pest control, fencing, watering points and other practical tasks on a property.
Travel the region as part of a hard-working, practically-minded team

For more than 20 years, Desert Channels Queensland has partnered with landholders, graziers and communities to deliver natural resource projects in the Queensland section of the Lake Eyre Basin.

We are a dynamic, award-winning, ‘roll-up-your-sleeves’ team that is experienced in weed management, feral animal control, revitalising springs, property mapping, data capture, sustainable agriculture, threatened species monitoring and improving land condition. We have dozens of projects on-the-go that invest in soil, water, land and biodiversity across 51 million hectares of our iconic Western Queensland region.

Key Tasks, Duties & Responsibilities

Spraying weeds at DCQ project sites and distributing herbicide granules under the direction of the Senior Project Officer and/ or Operations Manager, meeting relevant regulatory tools.
Fencing and relocating watering points to support land management activities.
Land management and pest control using emerging techniques.
Transporting ATV’s, chemical, fuel and equipment to and from sites.
Seed collection, plant propagation, welding, grading, and tractor work are all possible activities.
Site monitoring and surveys.
Completion of additional duties such as Chemical Spray sheets, Site Assessments, Photo Monitoring and Bio-condition Site Preparation, Site WH&S Assessments, Trip Forms & Chemical Stock Control.
Always representing DCQ in a professional manner during field work trips and wear a uniform provided by DCQ.
Attend regular staff meetings as requested and conduct other duties as specified by the CEO in consultation with the Operations Manager.

Job Requirements

Education / Qualifications:

Certificate III in Agriculture (Prepare and Apply Chemicals, Transport, Handle and Store Chemicals, Control Weeds) or relevant qualification and a Current Remote First Aid Certificate is highly desirable.

Selection Criteria

The criteria that will be used to identify candidates for this role are:

Suitable health and fitness to undertake physical field work as this is a highly physical role.
An active commitment to work health and safety with all work completed according to approved WH&S DCQ policies and procedures.
The ability to work hard, with initiative and in a team under the guidance of supervisors in remote locations across Western Queensland.
Excellent verbal communication skills, and the ability to complete daily logbooks and paperwork on site as required.
Knowledge of or experience in natural resource management, land management or agricultural industries, would be useful but not essential.
Demonstrated ability to ride buggies, motorcycles and/or ATV vehicles in varying conditions will be advantageous.

Personal Attributes

Communication – communicates with a range of people in diverse situations.
Teamwork – fosters team spirit, and builds and maintains co-operative and productive relationships.
Adaptability – acts independently based on broad direction and to accommodate changes in the environment, organisation, culture, rules, values, technology, responsibility, etc.
Planning – plans and prioritise work effort individually and as a team.
Initiative – takes or organises action to achieve goals – a self-starter.
Detail mindedness – attends to all details, no matter how small, which may affect quality or performance.
Work Quality –sets high standards and goals for self and others.
Dependability – meets deadlines, schedules and time commitments, keep promises and complete tasks as arranged.

Licence Requirements

Queensland C Class Driver’s Licence is mandatory (MR and LR licences would be an advantage)

Other licenses (Machine Operation, Queensland Firearm License, 4WD licenses) are also relevant

Job Benefits

12.75% superannuation where applicable.

Nine days on, five days off (90 hr fortnight)

25 days Annual Leave + leave loading

Rental assistance may be available, negotiated with LED

Application Details

Application Process

Please submit;

Cover letter with brief response to the Selection Criteria (no more than three pages).
Resume including two professional referees (no more than five pages).

Applications should be addressed to Leanne Kohler, Chief Executive Officer of Desert Channels Queensland, PO Box 601, Longreach Q 4730 or emailed to ceo@dcq.org.au by 5.00pm, Thursday 2nd April.

Applications closing earlier than originally advertised due to high interest.

Desert Channels Queensland is supported by the Australian Government's National Landcare Programme and the Queensland Government