Repairs & upgrades
"it just won't turn on"Slow, broken, or won't start? I'll find out what's actually wrong and either fix it or tell you straight if it's not worth it. Often it's a cheap part or a clean out, not a new machine.
Mackay · Whitsundays · Remote Australia wide
Farr from your
Farr from your
average IT support
Plain-English tech help that comes to you. Patient with the folks who find computers a chore, sharp for the small businesses that can't afford downtime.
What I can help with
Tech support without the hold music
(nothing against you, Opus No. 1)
The everyday stuff that makes you want to throw the bloody thing out the window. Tell me what it's doing in your own words and I'll sort it, without the tech-talk.
$130/hr·No call-out fee within 50 km of Mackay·Evenings & weekends, same rate
Aged-care, retirement-home and disability visits welcome, I come to you. National Police Check, issued November 2025.
Setup & installation
"I got a new laptop"New computer, printer or phone set up the way you actually use it. Need your old stuff? Files, photos and email all moved across, checked with you before the old one is wiped or retired.
Networking & WiFi
"the wifi drops out in the back room"Dead spots and dropouts sorted so the internet reaches the back room and just works. Often it's placement and setup, not paying for a faster plan.
Virus removal & security
"a pop up says I've been hacked"Pop ups, scam warnings and the "Microsoft" phone calls. I'll check what's real, clean out what isn't, and lock your accounts down so it's much harder for it to happen again.
Data & backups
"is everything backed up?"Lost photos and files recovered where I can, and a backup, set up and tested, so a dead drive or stolen laptop doesn't have to mean losing everything.
Remote support
"can you just look at it from there?"For a lot of stuff I can hop on securely from here, no call-out needed. You watch the whole time and I talk you through it as we go.
No question is too basic. If you've been shown something before and it hasn't stuck, that's completely normal. I'll walk you through it again until you are confident.
Why Farr Systems
Tech help that treats you like a person
Hi, I'm Jack.
I'm the whole company. The person who picks up the phone, turns up at your door, and fixes the thing. I started Farr Systems because I was tired of watching tech conglomerates sell services and gear to Aussies who were left in the dark, paying for something they didn't need, or didn't understand. A pensioner doesn't need a 180GB mobile plan to call the grandkids on the weekend, or multiple feature-saturated antivirus subscriptions to play Microsoft Solitaire. Tech shouldn't work like that. So I built the opposite: one person who turns up, tells you straight what's actually going on, does the job properly, and says plainly when something isn't worth your money. No "listen carefully as our menu options have changed". Just your problem sorted, by the same bloke every time.
Almost a decade of local repairs, builds, networks and clean-ups, from home laptops to small-business setups.
Jack Farrugia, Mackay
Plain English, always
I'll tell you what's wrong and what I'm doing, in words that make sense.
Local & onsite
Based in Mackay and covering the Whitsundays. I'll come to you, at home or at work.
Remote, Australia wide
Further afield? A secure remote session sorts most things without a call out.
Honest & upfront
Flat, clear pricing and no pressure to buy more than you need. If the cheaper fix is the right one, or there's no fix worth paying for, that's what I'll tell you.
Farr Systems carries professional indemnity and public liability insurance. If your business needs evidence of cover, just ask.
Word of mouth
What clients say
I thoroughly recommend Jack and his IT expertise. His After hours service that was available had our Company PC,s up and running in no time when no one else could assist quickly.
Would definitely use him again and recommend him to anyone who requires IT problem solving or general assistance.
Peter Leverington · Director, MTIC Thermal Imaging, Mackay
I have benefited from Jack's expertise & experience for which I am really grateful. He has been knowledgeable & efficient & has solved various problems on my computer, as well as salvaging my photos & restoring Facebook.
I have referred several of my friends to him, & am more than happy to recommend to anyone who has computer problems.
Penny McMahon
Jack is such a knowledgeable whiz. He listens attentively to your needs and is so patient with the [me] older generation that is not tech savy. A bonus he is so well mannered.
Judith Mary Hopkins
Rated 5.0 on Google · Read them on Google
How it works
Three steps, no fuss
01
Get in touch
Tell me roughly what's going on, in your own words.
02
We take a look
I'll have a look onsite or remotely and walk you through your options.
03
Sorted
I fix it, make sure you're happy, and leave you knowing how to use it.
For small business
IT support for businesses too small for an IT department
You don't need a server room or a lock in contract with a call centre. You need someone who keeps the essentials running and actually picks up when you ring. No five figure "solutions", no account managers, no tech-talk. Just the gear that keeps you trading, looked after.
Backups that actually work
Set up and restore-tested, built to get you back on your feet after a ransomware hit, a dead drive or a stolen laptop.
Kept running, not just fixed
Network, email and devices looked after so a small glitch doesn't turn into days offline.
One person to call
No account managers and no ticket queue. One person who knows your setup and can explain it to your team so everyone's on the same page.
I am selective about the businesses I support. Some businesses are big enough to need a full IT team, and that's a good problem to have! If that is the case, I'll say so plainly and point you to a reputable local MSP I'd trust with my own gear, rather than stretch myself thin and do you a worse job.
Talk through your setup
Questions, answered
The things people usually ask
What do you charge?
$130 an hour, with a one-hour minimum, then 30-minute blocks. I'll check in before going past the first hour. Bigger jobs like builds, network hardening or migrations get a fixed quote upfront, so you know the cost before I start.
I'm not confident with computers... is that okay?
More than okay! It's most of what I do. Describe the problem however makes sense to you; working it out is my job, and I'll explain the fix in plain English.
How and when do I pay?
Labour-only jobs are invoiced on completion and due within 7 days. Anything with hardware is paid in full upfront, before I order parts. Bank transfer, PayID or cash; card on request, with no surcharge.
Do you come to me?
Yes. Onsite across Mackay and the Whitsundays, home or business. Travel is free within 50 km of Mackay; for the Whitsundays and further out, I'll quote it upfront. Plenty I can also sort remotely, Australia wide.
How does remote support work, and is it safe?
I connect to your screen only with your okay, you watch the whole time, and access ends the moment we're done. Business clients can choose unattended access instead, set up in writing.
Evenings or weekends?
Yes. Evenings and weekends by arrangement, at no extra charge. Same rate, whenever suits you.
What sorts of problems do you handle?
Repairs, setup, networking and WiFi, virus and scam clean-ups, backups and recovery, moving you onto a new device. And if you're the technical type: custom builds, Linux, self-hosting and security hardening.
Is my data safe with you?
Privacy is the whole point of how I work. I only touch what I need to, with your say so. I don't ask for or keep your account passwords, and any copies of your files are erased within 30 days.
Are you insured?
Yes. Farr Systems carries professional indemnity and public liability insurance. If your business needs evidence of cover for its own records, ask and I'll send you a certificate of currency.
Do I need to know what's wrong?
Not at all. Describe it however makes sense ("it's slow", "the internet keeps dropping"). Working out the cause is my job.
Do you work with businesses, not just homes?
Yes. Small business is a big part of what I do: backups built to survive a disaster, keeping your network and email running, new device setup, and an ongoing arrangement if you'd rather not think about IT at all. One person who knows your gear, with no queue and no handoffs.
Get in touch
Let's get it sorted.
Skip the call centres. Tell me what's playing up and I'll get back to you the same day, usually within the hour.
Prefer to talk?
0485 835 817
Call or text. If I can't pick up, leave a message and I'll get back to you the same day. No phone tree.
Email meSend me the details
A few lines is plenty. I'll take it from there.