Sheep producers in central and north western Queensland are invited to take part in a two-year trial using tele-bridge technology to deliver electronic workshops and facilitate the transfer of information on topics to improve profitability and productivity.

Leading Sheep central west coordinator Jenny Keogh said the tele-bridge delivery option will give producers access to affordable, specialist comment and the opportunity to build knowledge and skills.

Leading Sheep is an Australian Wool Innovation Limited initiative in partnership with the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and supported by AgForce, which targets the adoption of new technologies and practices to increase the productivity and profitability of the Queensland sheep and wool industry.

Ms Keogh said the tele-bridge is being made available for the trial’s duration by the Longreach School of Distance Education and is therefore the same technology that has successfully bridged the isolation gap for school students undertaking distance education.

“The time and cost associated with physically travelling to workshps can be a formidable consideration, but this option will enable producers to access workshops and sessions with local, state and interestate speakers via a technological link,” Ms Keogh said.

The cost to access the tele-bridge will be a maximum of $2.50/use and at specific times up to 90 participants can be engaged at the same time.

“The trial has been put in place to offer producers the option of ringing in to access specific workshop activities that will be supported by either emailed visual material or a hard copy format which can be posted to participants on registration for the workshop.”

“It is hoped that by offering this type of delivery option, producers will have access to specialist comment and the opportunity to increase knowledge at a more reasonable cost.”

“Aspects of property financial management, diversification options, areas of sheep management and nutrition as well as learning about climate, are possible workshop topics.”

“The Leading Sheep central west committee is open to suggestions on what information workshops producers in the region need to make gains in their sheep production businesses.”

For more information on Leading Sheep actitivities in the central west, contact Jenny Keogh on 4657 5983 or email amaroo6@bigpond.com, or Ian McConnel on 4658 4425 or ian.mcconnel@dpi.qld.gov.au