The Etheridge and Tablelands regional councils were recently declared natural disaster areas after fires destroyed millions of hectares of land.

Call for farmers to get full-time social worker

Published: 10:21:52 AM, Mon 25 February 2013 UTC

The Northern Gulf Resource Management Group says a full-time social worker is needed in the Queensland region to support farmers coping with natural disasters.

Graziers are still dealing with the aftermath of bushfires that burnt millions of hectares of pasture late last year, with many properties still waiting for decent rain.

Group spokeswoman Noelene Ikin says counselling support from church and community organisations has been invaluable and needs to be more permanent.

"It's nice to have someone that comes out who is a professional, who's not related, or doesn't work with these people," she said.

"They really can express or get off their chest how they really feel at that point in time and not feel guilty about saying it or feel that next time they see that person they might regret it."

Tags: science_technology, chest, person, sociology, farmers, need, decent rain, graziers, pasture, hectares, millions, management group, community organisations, management, church, bushfires, people, aftermath, properties, natural disasters, still waiting..., waiting..., northern gulf resource, queensland region, full-time social worker, spokeswoman noelene ikin

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