About us

Our people

Passionate about helping Queenslanders, QRIDA is dedicated to supporting primary producers, businesses and non-profit organisations through financial assistance.

Whether it’s one of our dedicated Regional Area Managers supporting you through your First Start or Sustainability Loan application, or our Farm Debt Restructure Office or drought programs helping you through the tough times, our team is here to support yours. Delivering expert financial support, disaster recovery assistance and local knowledge, QRIDA is dedicated to supporting Queensland enterprises grow, adapt and get back on track. 

QRIDA has a network of Regional Area Managers (RAMs) across Queensland, with offices based in Brisbane, Bundaberg, Emerald (with regular visits to Longreach), Hughenden ((with an office in Cloncurry), Innisfail, Kingaroy, Mackay, Rockhampton, Roma, Toowoomba, and Townsville. Available for on-farm visits, our RAMs are there every step of the way, supporting primary producers to achieve their goals by providing local knowledge and expertise on QRIDA’s range of financial support programs.

Our staff are passionate about their work and are proud to provide services that make a true difference to Queenslanders across a breadth of industries and regions. Our people are experienced and have a wealth of knowledge and skills extending across policy, marketing, grant and loan administration, corporate finance and business.

Helping Queenslanders

For more than 30 years QRIDA has been working with Queensland primary producers, small businesses and non-profit organisations to provide financial assistance, advisory support and disaster assistance programs on behalf of state, territory and Commonwealth government agencies.

Administering the Queensland Government’s Primary Industry Productivity Enhancement Scheme (PIPES), QRIDA has helped thousands of primary producers make a start in agriculture and secure the long-term sustainability and profitability of their enterprise with First Start and Sustainability Loans.

Through the delivery of Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) assistance for primary producers, small businesses and non-profit organisations, QRIDA continues to support communities to recover from the impacts of disaster and re-establish their normal operations through disaster assistance loans and recovery grants.

As the Queensland Government’s experts in rural finance, we also administer the state government’s Farm Business Debt Mediation program, Farm Debt Restructure Office and conduct a biennial Queensland Rural Debt Survey. Our vision is to foster growth, sustainability and economic development in rural and regional communities by providing proactive, responsible and reliable financial services and assistance.

QRIDA also administers a wide range of government grants, rebates and loans on behalf of a number of other state and Commonwealth departments and agencies.

More recently, QRIDA has helped Queensland’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, delivering much needed financial assistance to impacted businesses especially the tourism and hospitality sector on behalf of the Queensland and Australian Governments.

Our story

QRIDA has come a long way since our early beginnings in 1986, when we were known as the Government Schemes Division, part of the Queensland Industry Development Corporation (QIDC).

On 1 October 1994, the division completely separated from QIDC and under the Rural and Regional Adjustment Act 1994 (Qld) became the Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority (QRAA), reporting to the state government.

In July 2017, as a result of the Farm Business Debt Mediation Act 2017 (Qld), QRAA's name was changed to the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) to reflect the organisation’s increased role and responsibilities, doing even more for rural and regional Queensland.

Building on our existing role within rural and regional communities, QRIDA has broadened the scope of the programs we deliver, providing high-quality, efficient and tailored programs on behalf of a range of state and Commonwealth government agencies.

Although many significant changes and developments have occurred since QRIDA began operation, our organisation remains committed to advancing and supporting Queensland industry well into the future.

On the 1 October 2024, QRIDA celebrated out 30th birthday. For three decades, QRIDA has been at the forefront of supporting Queenslanders by administering financial assistance to primary producers, businesses, non-profit organisations and individuals. This momentous occasion marks not just the passage of time but also our ongoing commitment to fostering growth, innovation, and resilience in our communities.  For more information visit our QRIDA turns 30! webpage.