About NACP

The Northern Australia Climate Program (NACP) delivers innovative research, development and extension outcomes to improve the capacity of the red meat industry in managing drought and climate risk across northern Australia.

The research, development and extension is vertically integrated from world leading climate modelling research, development of industry-relevant products; and delivery of a targeted extension, adoption and commercialisation service.

The University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) leads the program in collaboration with the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), the UK Met Office, State Departments of Agriculture in Queensland (DAF), Northern Territory (DITT), and Western Australia (DPIRD) and four Natural Resource Management groups.

Research delivers improvements in the Australian ACCESS-S operational general circulation model (GCM) through improved accuracy of multi-week to seasonal forecasts and a reduction in GCM biases and errors.

Development delivers products requested by industry (and policy) including Northern Rainfall Onset, Drought Monitor, Rainfall Burst, Madden Julian Oscillation, Green Date, Heat Load Index, Chill Index and Flash Drought. This website contains the Drought Monitor, real-time Flash Drought monitoring, 1- and 3-month Drought outlooks, 3-hourly cattle thermal stress forecasts out to 9 days , a climate training course, case studies, regional climate guides, videos and the Climate Outlook (issued monthly).

Extension, adoption and commercialisation uses Climate Mates, supported by UniSQ and BoM researchers, to deliver a climate service to the red meat supply chain. This is focused on building awareness, knowledge and skills, and providing the support and confidence for clients to use weather and climate information in decision making.

Financial, environmental and social impacts are demonstrated through the collection and analysis of property data. The delivery of a commercial climate course with accredited trainers provides an avenue for adoption and impact beyond the life of the program.

NACP Funding: The Northern Australia Climate Program is funded by the Queensland Government’s Drought and Climate Adaptation Program, the University of Southern Queensland, Meat and Livestock Australia.

Contact the team at UniSQ