RIRDC Completed Projects in 2006–2007 and Research in Progress as at June 2007

Human Capital, Communications and

Information Systems R&D

October 2007

RIRDC Publication No 07/022

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© 2007 Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved. ISBN 1 74151 422 3 ISSN 1440-6845 RIRDC Completed Projects in 2006–2007 and Research in Progress as at June 2007 – Human Capital, Communications and Information Systems Publication No. 07/022 The information contained in this publication is intended for general use to assist public knowledge and discussion and to help improve the development of sustainable regions. You must not rely on any information contained in this publication without taking specialist advice relevant to your particular circumstances.

While reasonable care has been taken in preparing this publication to ensure that information is true and correct, the Commonwealth of Australia gives no assurance as to the accuracy of any information in this publication.

The Commonwealth of Australia, the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), the authors or contributors expressly disclaim, to the maximum extent permitted by law, all responsibility and liability to any person, arising directly or indirectly from any act or omission, or for any consequences of any such act or omission, made in reliance on the contents of this publication, whether or not caused by any negligence on the part of the Commonwealth of Australia, RIRDC, the authors or contributors..

The Commonwealth of Australia does not necessarily endorse the views in this publication.

This publication is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, all other rights are reserved. However, wide dissemination is encouraged. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the RIRDC Publications Manager on phone 02 6271 4165.

RIRDC Global Competitiveness Research Manager Jane Fisher RIRDC Level 2, 15 National Circuit BARTON ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: 02 6271 4149 Fax: 02 6271 4199 Email: jane.fisher@rirdc.gov.au

In submitting this report, the researcher has agreed to RIRDC publishing this material in its edited form. RIRDC Contact Details Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Level 2, 15 National Circuit BARTON ACT 2600 PO Box 4776 KINGSTON ACT 2604 Phone: 02 6271 4100 Fax: 02 6271 4199 Email: rirdc@rirdc.gov.au. Web: http://www.rirdc.gov.au Published in October 2007 Printed by Canprint

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Foreword

Human Capital, Communications and Information Systems Research in Progress, June 2007, contains short summaries of continuing projects as well as those that were completed during 2006–2007. This program aims to enhance human capital and facilitate innovation in rural industries and communities. The complete report on all RIRDC programs is available at our website, http://www.rirdc.gov.au The Program has 11 Strategies. These are: Strategies 1: Information and communications systems Strategies 2: Extension, education and training Strategies 3: Rural communities and social issues Strategies 4: Policies and institutions Strategies 5: Farm health and safety Strategies 6: Leadership Strategies 7: Scholarships Strategies 8: Communications Strategies 9: Program development Strategies 10: Capacity Building for innovation in rural industries – Cooperative Venture Strategies 11: Rural Women’s Award. This report is the newest addition to our extensive catalogue of over 1600 research reports, videos and CD-Roms of projects supported by RIRDC. Please contact us for the latest publications catalogue or view it on our website. • downloads at www.rirdc.gov.au/fullreports/index.html • purchases at www.rirdc.gov.au/eshop Peter O’Brien Managing Director Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation

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Contents

3.7 Human Capital, Communications and Information Systems

– Completed Projects Project No

Project Title Researcher Phone Organisation Page No

1. Information and communication systems DAQ-325A Can farm management software

improve the performance of farm business?

JoAnn M Resing (07) 4722 2662 Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries

1

2. Extension, education and training CSL-25A Bridging the gap between theory

and practice; a commercialisation case study

Dr Richard Stirzaker

(02) 6246 5570 CSIRO Land and Water

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3. Rural communities and social issues FRO-1J The impact of water trade in the

Murray Valley David Appels and Mike Woolston

(03) 9920 4488 Frontier Economics 2

5. Farm health and safety AGT-12A Developing an RDE plan for

potential co-investment by partners in a Collaborative Partnership for Health and Safety in Primary Industries

Peter Chudleigh and Sarah Simpson

(07) 3870 4047 Agtrans Research 3

UMO-32A In-depth investigations of farm machinery injury

Wayne Baker and Dr Lesley Day

(03) 9905 4371 Monash University, Accident Research Centre

5

WDH-1A Sustainable farm families: the human resource in the triple bottom line

Susan Brumby (03) 5551 8464 Western District Health Service

6

9. Program development AGT-11A Developing a five year plan for

HCC (Part 1); Evaluation of benefits delivered by the FH&S Joint Venture (Part 2)

Peter Chudleigh and Sarah Simpson

(07) 3870 4047 Agtrans Research 8

10. Capacity Building for innovation in rural industries – Cooperative Venture AIA-12A National accreditation and

professional development program (NAPDP) for agriculture, natural resources and related sectors

Cameron Archer (02) 4939 8800 Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology

10

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3.7 Human Capital, Communications and Information Systems – Research in Progress

Project No

Project Title Researcher Phone Organisation Page No

1. Information and communication systems RMI-16A Evaluating the impact of ICTs on

the livelihood of rural communities A/Prof Mohini Singh, Dr Alemayehu Molla

(03) 9925 1355 RMIT University 11

3. Rural communities and social issues BCG-3A Critical breaking point?

Understanding farming families’ pressures, plans and needs

Dr Lauren Rickards

(03) 5492 2787 Birchip Cropping Group

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UNE-101A Revisiting missed opportunities: a re-evaluation of women’s contribution to agriculture

A/Prof Alison Sheridan

(02) 6773 2304 University of New England

14

UTS-10A New immigrants in regional and rural Australia: attraction and retention

Prof Jock Collins (UTS) and Dr Branka Krivokapic-Skoko (CSU)

(02) 9514 7720 University of Technology, Sydney and Charles Sturt University

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4. Policies and institutions UWA-99A Regional development,

diversification and addressing the rural labour shortage

Prof Matthew Tonts

(08) 6488 7329 University of Western Australia

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5. Farm health and safety US-141A Farm safety studies A/Prof Lyn

Fragar (02) 6752 8210 Australian Centre for

Agricultural Health and Safety

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US-148A Effectiveness of risk control measures to reduce occupational exposure to pesticides

A/Prof Lyn Fragar

(02) 6752 8210 Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety

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WDH-2J Sustainable farming families – building and extending our future

Susan Brumby (03) 5551 8464 Western District Health Service

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8. Communications ABB-9A Heywire – The ABC gives regional

youth a voice Justine McSweeney

(03) 9626 1861 Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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9. Program development AGL-9A Peri-urban issues: Is there a role

for RIRDC and what is their ‘space’

Michael Clarke (02) 9817 5888 AgEconPlus Pty Ltd 23

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3.7 Human Capital, Communications and Information Systems – Research in Progress

Project No

Project Title Researcher Phone Organisation Page No

10. Capacity Building for innovation in rural industries – Cooperative Venture DRD-8A On the fast-track: Bringing

capacity building research and practice together

Dr Ruth Nettle (03) 8344 4581 Dairy Australia 24

GSA-2A Maximising the connection between R&D providers and agribusiness

Gordon Stone (07) 4615 2255 Gordon Stone and Associates

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HAS-12A Cooperative Venture for Capacity Building evaluation project

Jan Paul van Moort

(02) 9241 5655 Hassall & Associates

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JMA-1A Incorporating CVCB outputs into member programs

John McKenzie (02) 6366 5000 John McKenzie & Associates

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NAT-3A Communication services to the Cooperative Venture for Capacity Building

Anne Currey 0414 878 175 Naturally Resourceful Pty ltd

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UNE-91A Nesting community-based NRM for regional accountability and grassroots cooperation

Dr GR Marshall (02) 6773 3250 University of New England

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UQ-126A Synthesising policy implications from CVCB program

Dr Michael Cuthill

(07) 3381 1278 University of Queensland

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UWA-92A The roles for capacity building in regional NRM

David Pannell (08) 9842 0820 University of Western Australia

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Completed Projects – 1. Information and communication systems Project Title: Can farm management software improve the performance of

farm businesses? Stage One: an audit of Australia’s farm software industry

RIRDC Project No.:

DAQ-325A

Researcher: JoAnn M Resing Organisation: Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Phone: 07 4722 2662 Fax: 07 4778 2970 Email: Joann.resign@dpi.qld.gov.au

Strategies • Source and identify the farm management software currently used in Australia. • Describe and compare the key components of farm management software packages. • To profile, as case studies, a range of farmers who successfully use farm management

software systems to improve the performance of their farm businesses/ • Design an interactive web platform that facilitates the process farmers use to evaluate,

review and choose software.

Background The last comprehensive audit of farm software in Australia was produced in 1999 and described 175 software applications. Since then, there have been no comprehensive audits and/or regularly updated descriptive lists of the software tools available for use by the Australian primary producer.

Research Better agribusiness decisions play a vital role in the success of Australia’s agroeconomics. Informing and automating these decisions through the incorporation of innovative digital technologies is the only way for Australia to remain competitive in a global field that has become increasingly high-tech.

The core of incorporating a successful digital technology solution into an agricultural enterprise, from the tractor and weather station to the office computer, is the selection and use of appropriate software tools. This project addresses innovations in the field of agricultural computer software and identifies over 650 software products currently used by Australia’s primary producers. Produced by over 200 Australian software developers, the agricultural software industry is an untapped goldmine of agricultural technology solutions and a potential export industry in itself.

Outcomes The 2007 Australian Farm Software Directory was created to provide product descriptions on software relevant to Australia’s primary production sector. The software included in the directory aims to assist producers in meeting and exceeding their business requirements by offering digital solutions designed to reduce costs, improve quality and save time.

Implications Due to the short-shelf life of the data included in the 2007 Australian Farm Software Directory, there is a need to get the information out to Australian producers as quickly as possible. It would suite production as rural magazine, an option which exists with one of our project partners.

Digital technology is constantly changing. A one-off audit will not service the agricultural sector’s information needs unless it is regularly updated and continually expanded to include the latest innovations in agriculturally relevant digital technology products and services.

An interactive online platform would be the best method to support farmers in sourcing and evaluating the ever increasing range of digital agricultural tools.

Publications The 2007 Australian Farm Software Directory (in prep).

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Completed Projects – 2. Extension, education and training Project Title: Bridging the gap between theory and practise; a

commercialisation case study RIRDC Project No.:

CSL-25A

Researcher: Dr Richard Stirzaker Organisation: CSIRO Land and Water Phone: 02 6246 5570 Fax: 02 6246 5565 Email: richard.stirzaker@csiro.au Strategies

To demonstrate and document a “Public Good Commercialisation Venture” built around a Wetting Front Detector – a new tool that can improve the management of water, salt and nutrients in irrigated agriculture.

Background To go from a scientific concept to a commercial product that is widely available, takes most scientists across uncharted waters. Prior to the commencement of this project, we had walked the minefield from getting patents to securing a manufacturer for the product. This project was about building the public good component around the commercialisation of the FullStop Wetting Front Detector.

Research We used our networks, workshops and field days to promote the potential of the WFD and invited key players to evaluate it under their own conditions. Then we built a comprehensive website at www.fullstop.com.au to support the growing number of users. We encouraged irrigators to be explicit about what they were attempting to do and to test their conceptualization in ‘learning-by-doing’ approach. By showing irrigators how salt and nitrate were accumulating and leaching in their soil, we demonstrated how solute monitoring could provide new insights into irrigation management.

Outcomes As an interactive monitoring and learning tool, the WFD is the first of its type in the market. It is a simple device that brings together water, salt and nitrate management and helps growers to assess and reevaluate their practices. As a commercial product, the WFD has had a very promising start, with over ten thousand units sold around the world.

Implications There has recently been a concerted push to get scientists to take their research all the way through to commercial products. Although this particular commercialization venture has been successful, we found the support and advice provided to scientists to be inadequate for the task. The general culture of ‘short-termism’ is the antithesis of what is required. The journey is being fully documented in an attempt to help other researchers learn from our experience.

Publications www.fullstop.com.au

The website covers the basics of installing and using the WFD, how it works, visualization games, how to interpret salt and nitrate readings, troubleshooting and a range of publications. A report documenting the entire commercialization process is forthcoming from RIRDC.

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Completed Projects – 3. Rural communities and social issues Project Title: The impact of water trade in the Murray Valley RIRDC Project No.:

FRO-1J

Researcher: David Appels and Mike Woolston of Frontier Economics, Elaine Barclay and Ian Reeve of Institute for Rural Futures (University of New England), Tim Cummins of Tim Cummins and Associates, and Alistair Watson.

Organisation: Frontier Economics 395 Collins Street Melbourne VIC

Phone: 03 9920 4488 Fax: 03 9620 4499 Email: dave.appels@frontier-economics.com Strategies

The purpose of this study is to understand the economic and social impacts (both positive and negative) of the permanent and temporary water trade on those who trade, local industries and communities.

Background Water trading in Australia has developed as a response to ‘the return of scarcity’. Competition from other water users and the environment became apparent in the early 1980s at the end of a century-long drive to build dams and distribute entitlements to use water for irrigation. With all the easy to construct and cost-effective dams in south eastern Australia already built, increased water harvesting had run its race as a means of enabling new irrigation developments. The implementation of a cap on diversions in 1997 then limited the amount of water available for irrigated agricultural use in the Murray-Darling Basin.

Water trading was intended to facilitate more efficient use of an increasingly scarce resource by enabling water to move to more productive uses. An open and robust water market was expected to provide numerous benefits to individuals, communities and the economy broadly. Nonetheless, from the beginning, a number of concerns were expressed about the economic and social impacts of water trade.

Research The social information examined in the study was collected through interviews in selected regions, involving irrigators and the broader community. Participants included 33 farmers and 112 community residents. The economic information was drawn from publicly available information and our own analysis.

Regional case studies are presented as stand-alone attachments to this report: Sunraysia; Pyramid-Boort; Rochester, Central Goulburn and Kerang-Cohuna.

Outcomes This report provides valuable information for policymakers that address the question whether there might be alternative measures to address any social, economic and financial impacts on local communities without imposing major constraints on the ability for water to trade to its most productive use. It seeks to contribute to the understanding of the impacts of water trading on all stakeholders across regional economies and communities.

Implications When considering the impacts of water trade, it is important to include both temporary and permanent water trading and to acknowledge the context of the observed changes in water use—which is a background of rural change and structural adjustment.

Publications A report has been submitted to RIRDC.

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Completed Projects – 5. Farm health and safety Project Title: Developing an RDE plan for potential co-investment by partners

in a collaborative partnership for health and safety in primary industries

RIRDC Project No.:

AGT-12A

Researcher: Peter Chudleigh and Sarah Simpson Organisation: Agtrans Research Phone: 07 3870 4047 Fax: 07 3371 3381 Email: info@agtrans.com.au Strategies

The consultancy is aimed at collating and analysing information to support the development of a five-year plan for the proposed Collaborative Partnership. The report can also be used as a prospectus to attract additional funding partners to the Partnership.

Background The Joint Venture for Farm Health and Safety was established in 2001 and ends in June 2007. In preparation for the end of the first phase of the program, an economic evaluation was carried out. In carrying out that evaluation, there were difficulties in identifying the impact of the program’s outputs. It was thought that identifying key players in the primary industries health and safety field, together with research and extension programs other than the Joint Venture, would help in terms of setting priorities and identifying an appropriate monitoring and evaluation strategy for the new Collaborative Partnership.

The consultancy was aimed at collating and analysing information to support the development of a five year plan for the proposed Collaborative Partnership.

Research A five year R&D plan was developed through consideration of material from a number of sources and processes including:

• The previous five year plans for the joint research venture and the September 2006 workshop report on priorities

• Web and other materials were searched to identify key players in research, compliance, extension and end users in the area of health and safety.

• Possible partners in the prospective new program were contacted to obtain further input to priorities.

• Information on current and emerging issues, current research priorities from research organisations, and the activities of organisations involved in health and safety initiatives was assembled. This was compared with the refined priority set and gaps and overlaps identified. Further refinement of priorities was then carried out.

• Information on key players was organised into a number of adoption pathways illustrating the existing pathways for health and safety messages to reach farmers and fishers.

• Exploratory cost-benefit analyses were undertaken. • A monitoring and evaluation framework was developed for individual projects

and the overall program.

Outcomes Commencing with the priorities emanating from the September 2006 workshop held by the current Research Joint Venture, the project produced a set of Strategies and strategies for a new collaborative program in the health and safety area for farming and fishing. The Strategies and strategies reflect a refinement of the original priorities and take into account consultation with the prospective partners in the new arrangement as well as a gap analysis. The gap analysis subjected the priorities to research and other initiatives that are occurring through other avenues. The gap analysis also included taking note of what recent principal reports on health and safety had advocated.

The project also identified key players in both research and intervention in health and safety for farming and fishing, including research funders, research providers, industry,

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regulatory authorities and health and safety training and promotion organisations. This allowed adoption pathways for knowledge to be defined.

The project also developed a framework for considering the return on investment in different priority areas; and an evaluation framework and costing that would apply to the investment in the collaborative program given that the Strategies and strategies are adopted as stated.

A draft five year plan for the proposed program was also developed.

Implications The report has been the basis for seeking reinvestment in a collaborative partnership for Farm Health and Safety.

Publications Final report submitted to RIRDC.

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Completed Projects – 5. Farm health and safety Project Title: In-depth investigations of farm machinery injury RIRDC Project No.:

UMO-32A

Researcher: Mr Wayne Baker, Dr Lesley Day Organisation: Monash University, Accident Research Centre Phone: 03 9905 4371 Fax: 02 9905 1809 Email: Wayne.Baker@muarc.monash.edu.au; Lesley.Day@muarc.monash.edu.au

Strategies To identify machine factors associated with farm machinery injury, and to explore the interaction of machinery factors with human factors.

Background Farm machinery related injury has been identified as a priority in Farmsafe Australia’s National Goals, Targets and Strategies, as this type of injury accounts for just over 20% of injury related deaths in agriculture. A unique opportunity to specifically examine risk factors for serious farm machinery injury arose several years ago within the context of a study of all types of unintentional farm injury among men (the FIRM study). This opportunity arose at a time when the National Farm Machinery Safety Strategy had identified that research was needed in the areas of defining the injury problem and its causal factors, and improving machinery design.

Research The study had a case-control design. Farmers and farm workers who sustained a serious farm work related machinery injury (cases) were recruited via hospital emergency departments. Information was collected about themselves, their working life and the property on which they worked (Stage 1). Where the participant agreed, an on-site inspection of the machine was conducted, to collect information about the characteristics of the machine (Stage 2). A group of randomly selected farmers and farm workers who were not seriously injured (controls) were also recruited and comparable information was collected about them and a similar type of machinery to that involved in the case injury event. The study was restricted to men who comprise substantial proportions of farmers who are fatally and seriously injured.

Outcomes A number of factors independently associated with an increased odds of farm machinery injury were identified, including having had a previous hospital stay for a farm work related injury, being an employee or contractor, being engaged in seasonal farm work, using a machine that had not been purchased new. The odds of injury increased by 4% for each year increase in the age of the machine. Farmers with asthma or back pain in the previous 12 months were less likely to be involved in a machinery related injury. A range of design changes were identified which would reduce the potential for injury, and a number of systematic safety issues were presented, with suggested design solutions that satisfy an incident prevention context.

Implications This report aims to inform change at various levels of the agricultural and agricultural machinery industries, advocating a combined effort amongst stakeholders to enhance the state of knowledge by innovation, discussion, and implementation of solutions to key machinery design and machinery management issues.

Machinery manufacturers, importers and suppliers will be encouraged that some of the injuries in this study resulted from design aspects that no longer exist on newer machines, and can learn from the many for which the design features are similar on new machines.

There are specific actions recommended for occupational health and safety regulatory authorities, and there are implications for both the regulatory and prevention programs of these agencies. The work of Farmsafe Australia, and the National Farm Machinery Reference Group will be supported and enhanced by the findings and recommendations of this report. There are implications for this work on farmers and farm families regarding the ongoing utilisation of older farm machinery, and the associated risk management.

Publications A report has been submitted to RIRDC.

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Completed Projects – 5. Farm health and safety Project Title: Sustainable farm families: the human resource in the triple

bottom line RIRDC Project No.:

WDH-1A

Researcher: Susan Brumby Organisation: Western District Health Service – Community Services Phone: (02) 5551 8464 Fax: (02) 5572 5371 Email: susan.brumby@wdhs.net Internet: www.sustainablefarmfamilies.org.au Strategies

1. Identify and track farming family health indicators for inclusion in Farm

Management quality assurance processes. 2. Design and deliver a training program for farming families to identify strategies

to enhance individual, family health and relevant OH&S practices. 3. Communicate project findings to agricultural sectors. 4. Provide information on the relationship between family health, health as a social

issue in rural communities and farm productivity.

Background The project was structured initially around a specific target group of farming families and covered many health issues including cardiovascular, diabetes, stress, gender specific issues, cancers, injury, safety and mental health. The program content reflected the primary health factors known to affect farmers and rural communities more generally. The program was also planned to recognise the complex environment of farms as workplaces, homes and businesses. Given this complexity, farming families were key players in the shaping, feedback and further development of the program through discussion of shared issues and common problems.

Research The project’s research and education activities included:

• Literature search based on farmer health (health promotion, extension and farmer education workshops)

• Focus group discussion regarding attitudes to health wellbeing and safety • Structured annual workshops over 3 years using established learning models and

theories • Pre and post knowledge questionnaires • Program process evaluation • Physical assessment process and data collation of health indicators • Demographic and self reported surveys • Data analysis using SPSS • Action planning to address behaviour and lifestyle decisions • Case studies

Outcomes The significant outcomes include:

• High retention rates of participants over three years • Retention of new knowledge gained over three years by participants; • Separate economic evaluation has demonstrated the viability of SFF intervention on

health and well being of participants and its overall value for money; • Statistically significant reduction of clinical indicators which correlate to major

diseases including, for example cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes. • Increased use of protective aids and equipment on farms and positive lifestyle changes

consistent with action planning by participants to commit to family holidays, and other stress reduction activities.

• Generation of further research into the health, wellbeing and safety of farming families across Australia

• Three fully refereed conference papers published highlighting the positive health

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outcomes of the research with additional abstracts presented at numerous conferences; and

• All participants would recommend the program to other farming families

Implications • Farming families and industry share the success of the SFF research and is now using this success to foster additional programs for key faming communities.

• Positive community response has seen the program receive major awards in 2005 and 2006 and international recognition.

• Initiation of work safe programs, additional funds for health and wellbeing grants and supermarkets changing the foods they stock for healthier choices all constitute benefits for particular rural communities.

• The SFF research has seen emerging interest from government and policy makers in gaining more understanding about farming health, well being and the future of the family farm enterprise. This has resulted in some additional funding to expand the action research, number of participants and training opportunities

Publications Brumby, S, Martin, J & Willder, S 2006, ‘The Sustainable Farm Families Project: the human resource in the triple bottom line’, Presentation to NRHA 2006 International Conference, Conference Centre, Alice Springs, NT, Australia.

Brumby, S, Martin, J & Willder, S 2006, ‘The Sustainable Farm Families Project: Changing Farmer Attitudes to Health’, Presentation to APEN 2006 International Conference, La Trobe University, Beechworth, Victoria, Australia. Published online at regional.org.au/au/apen/2006.

Brumby, S, Martin, J & Willder, S 2007, ‘Early intervention in farming family health: making informed life choices for sustainable family farming’, Presentation to NRHA 2007 International Conference, Albury, Australia.

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Completed Projects – 9. Program development Project Title: Developing a five-year plan for HCC (including an evaluation of

benefits delivered by the FH&S Joint Venture) RIRDC Project No.:

AGT-11A

Researcher: Peter Chudleigh and Sarah Simpson Organisation: Agtrans Research Phone: 07 3870 4047 Fax: 07 3371 3381 Email: info@agtrans.com.au Strategies

• To identify the issues and knowledge gaps where the HCC program’s relatively

limited R&D investment can be optimally focused, both in terms of its leverage and potential outcomes.

• To assess the impact of the benefits derived from the investment by the Farm Health & Safety Joint Venture managed by RIRDC. The assessment refers to projects completed in the five-year period 2001/02 to 2005/06.

Background RIRDC requires all programs to develop five year plans that identify the Strategies and

priorities of the program, together with strategies and activities to ensure those Strategies are met. In developing the five year plan, it is timely to review whether the existing Strategies and priorities will remain relevant for the next five years, or whether other issues should take priority. Part of this process involved looking back at how well the Strategies were being met by the existing activities, as well as looking at other programs whose Strategies overlap with those of HCC. Specific attention was given to assessing the impacts of the Joint Venture for Farm Health and Safety, which was managed by RIRDC through the HCC program.

Research The Five Year R&D Plan was developed through consideration of material from a number of sources and processes including consultation with a broad range of stakeholders. Key material and processes included:

• a description of a previous evaluation of past investment in this area by RIRDC up to 2001

• a description of the investment over the past five years by RIRDC and identification of some of the implications of and benefits arising from that investment

• identification of past and future intended directions of other R&D funders and providers covering similar areas of interest to that of the HCC.

Consultation processes included phone and email contact with over 20 stakeholders. Stakeholders were asked questions about future priorities and strategies for the funding of research and capacity building in the area of interest of the HCC. In addition, a half day workshop with selected stakeholders was held in Canberra in November 2006. The workshop identified important multi-industry issues facing the agricultural sector that were relevant to the HCC Program and developed research priorities that the Program might address in the future. Material from the workshop together with that from the individual consultations was used to develop this five year plan. A draft of the plan was prepared by the consultants (Agtrans Research). The draft was discussed with RIRDC staff and subsequently modified and then endorsed by the RIRDC Board.

With respect to the FH&S Joint Venture, the completed projects funded by the program over the five year period 2001/02 to 2005/06 were identified and their Strategies and outputs scanned in a cost-benefit framework. An initial attempt was made to identify the intended outcomes and benefits of the projects. Projects whose activities and outcomes were linked were identified in order that they could be assessed together. After this initial scanning, three projects/groups of projects were identified (five projects in all) where costs and benefits could be quantified. Valuation of the benefits then took place. Principal investigators for each project were contacted in order to assist with identifying outcomes

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and benefits. The remaining fifteen projects were analysed in a qualitative manner only.

Outcomes Part 1 of the study found that the past investment in the HCC program has been innovative and has produced significant outcomes and impacts. However, in the future a more strategic approach should be taken to support for education, training and leadership programs. It was recommended that the program should consider developing a leadership role in the area of rural social research.

Part 2 of the study found that the program has largely met the Strategies identified in its Strategic Plan, but that the impact of many of the individual projects funded were difficult to assess due to a lack of data on how and where the outputs of the research have been used and their impact on behaviour. Given the assumptions made, the projects for which benefits were valued showed that the potential returns to research in this are likely to be significant. Reducing the probability of death or injury by only a small amount can result in extremely high benefits.

Implications This project has resulted in the development of a new five year plan for the HCC, which has been renamed the Rural People and Learning Systems Program.

The second part of the project demonstrated the potential value of investment in farm health and safety research. It also demonstrated the lack of data and information available on the impact of research in this field. This resulted in the funding of a more detailed study to develop a prospectus and five year plan for a new collaborative program in this area (see RIRDC Project AGT-12A).

Publications In press.

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Completed Projects – 10. Capacity Building for Innovation in Rural Industries – Cooperative Venture Project Title: National accreditation and professional development program

(NAPDP) for agriculture, natural resources and related sectors RIRDC Project No.:

AIA-12A

Researcher: Mr Cameron Archer Organisation: Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology Phone: 02 4939 8800 Fax: 02 4939 8919 Email: cameron.archer@dpi.nsw.gov.au Strategies To evaluate, by means of a pilot, a national competency-based scheme for accrediting

practitioners in agriculture, natural resource management (NRM) and related sectors. The specific Strategies of this stage of our research project are to: 1. establish agreement on the competencies needed by agricultural practitioners for

sustainable Australian, broad-acre cropping, wool and production horticulture sectors. 2. assemble and trial such competencies and assess their various levels of performance. 3. assess the benefits, processes and costs of a competency-based accreditation process. 4. evaluate the issues involved in implementing a competency-based accreditation

program nationally. 5. develop and evaluate the procedures and processes necessary for accredited

professionals to maintain currency of technology and best practice, and therefore accreditation, in their respective fields.

These will be achieved by means of a pilot program to be conducted in late 2006 and early 2007, involving 60 participants from the broad-acre cropping, wool and production horticulture sectors.

Background This research project seeks to build upon the 2002 Practitioner Workshop and the 2003 AAAC-APEN accreditation project. Practitioner numbers are rising as are the fields within which they operate from servicing governments, industry and farmers. Accreditation enables a more systematic national approach for assessing/guiding the performance of practitioners and enhances development of common accreditation, training packages and their mutual recognition across the sectors of agriculture and NRM.

Research Pilot accreditation program representing a national cross-section of practitioners in both public and private employment in the agriculture and natural resource management sectors. Competency based assessment process of individuals with specialist competencies mapped against existing Vocation Education and Training packages.

Outcomes • Evidence based assessment against national competency standards is suitable for those working as professionals in industry for more than three years

• The individual skills based assessment and recognition process provides the rigor and transparency necessary to maintain a credible industry based accreditation scheme which can be audited against the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF)

• Candidates in the Pilot program were interested in building on the nominated skills set to take up further units to complete a nationally recognized Diploma in either Agriculture or Conservation and Land Management, even though this came at greater cost

• Skills recognition by workplace interview was seen as simpler and more efficient than the desk-top audit approach by those in the NRM cohort who were offered both pathways

• Individual case management and follow up of candidates by experienced Education Officers was critical in assisting candidates in the pilot to collect and submit appropriate evidence for assessment.

Implications A national rigorous and credible accreditation scheme based on competency assessment is achievable with the continued support of industry groups.

Publications AgCredited – Pilot program handbook. September 2006 AgCredited – Pilot program handbook for NRM professionals. January 2007

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RIRDC Research in Progress – 1. Information and communication systems Project Title Evaluating the impact of ICTs on the livelihood

of rural communities RIRDC Project No.:

RMI-16A

Start Date: 14 Sep 06 Finish Date: 30 Nov 08 Researcher: A/Prof Mohini Singh, Dr Alemayehu Molla Organisation: RMIT University Phone: 03 9925 1355 Fax: 03 9925 5850 Email: mohini.singh@rmit.edu.au; alemayehu.molla@rmit.edu.au Strategies

The project aims to: 1. Evaluate the impact of three applications of information and

communications technology (ICT) – e-learning, e-government and e-commerce – on the livelihoods of rural communities in Australia.

2. Assess the extent these popular applications have contributed to improvements in rural communities' access to government services, online education programs and online business opportunities.

3. Assess improvements on the livelihood of rural communities from e-learning, e-government and e-commerce.

4. Identify socio-technical, institutional and digital divide issues for ICT applications in rural Australia.

5. Determine a strategy for reducing the digital divide gap and develop a framework for maximising the impact of ICT on citizens living in rural Australia.

Current Progress

The project is progressing well. Since the last report in November 2006, more literature review has been completed, including more recent academic publications. With new issues identified from literature, the research framework was further refined to include issues relevant to rural communities and electronic applications. In addition, a wider pool of government sponsored e-learning and e-government programs have identified and profiled. The data collection protocol was finalised and is now ready for pilot testing. An ethics application to conduct the pilot and main study is in the final stage of preparation and will be submitted to RMIT’s Business Portfolio Human Research Ethics Sub-Committee. The research team (Mohini Singh and Alemayehu Molla assisted by the research assistant) are currently mapping the e-learning and e-government programs identified to specific rural communities. This will help identify the evaluation criteria for establishing the impact of the initiatives on the livelihood of the communities. The team is also identifying and contacting community leaders to establish contacts for interviews with community members. At RMIT University, there is continual support for this project. The research team is sharing experiences and methodology with researchers at RMIT’s Global Cities Research Institute, who have experience with a number of community sustainability projects both locally and internationally. The School of Business Information Technology is continuing it support by providing the necessary infrastructure and staff time.

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RIRDC Research in Progress – 3. Rural communities and social issues Project Title Critical breaking point? Understanding farming

families’ pressures, plans and needs RIRDC Project No.:

BCG-3A

Start Date: 31-May-2007 Finish Date: 30-Sep-2008 Researcher: Dr Lauren Rickards Organisation: Birchip Cropping Group Phone: 03 5492 2787 Fax: 03 5492 2753 Email: info@bcg.org.au Strategies

To gain a better understanding of the pressures upon Australian producers and their families, how they are responding, and their plans and needs for the future.

Current Progress

This project commenced in June 2007.

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RIRDC Research in Progress – 3. Rural communities and social issues Project Title Revisiting missed opportunities: a re-evaluation

of women’s contribution to agriculture RIRDC Project No.:

UNE-101A

Start Date: 29-Jun-2007 Finish Date: 15-Nov-2008 Researcher: A/Prof Alison Sheridan Organisation: University of New England Phone: 02 6773 2304 Fax: 02 677 3914 Email: Strategies

Strategies of the research: 1. Evaluate outcomes of original Missed Opportunities Report and subsequent

implemented strategies. 2. Update the economic modeling of the value of women's contribution to the

agriculture sector. 3. Documenting women's roles in rural and regional Australia by occupation

and industry. 4. Assess the capacity of existing data collections to allow for the on-going

monitoring of women's diverse economic activities in rural and regional Australia.

5. Determine the extent and nature of the barriers and cultural and socio-economic factors that still impact women's contribution to rural and regional businesses and services, especially their participation in innovation, leadership and decision making. Determine the strategic, long-term capacity-building initiatives required for all levels and types of leadership for women in rural and regional Australia.

Current Progress

This project commenced in June 2007.

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RIRDC Research in Progress – 3. Rural communities and social issues Project Title New immigrants in regional and rural Australia:

attraction and retention RIRDC Project No.:

UTS-10A

Start Date: 30 Jan 2007 Finish Date: 30 Jan 2010 Researcher: Prof Jock Collins (UTS), Dr Branka Krivokapic-Skoko (CSU) Organisation: University of Technology, Sydney (UTS); Charles Sturt University (CSU) Phone: (02) 9514 7720 Fax: Email: jock.collins@uts.edu.au Strategies

Recent (2003) changes to Australian immigration policy encourage new immigrants to settle in regional and rural areas. This is a very significant change that has the potential to benefit rural and regional Australia, yet we know very little about new immigrants in the Australian 'bush'. This research project aims to redress this and aims to: 1. Review the national and regional dimensions of the Regional Sponsorship

Migration Scheme and the Regional Establish Businesses in Australia programme.

2. Explore the experience of recent migrants in regional and rural areas, including those who are immigrant entrepreneurs, immigrant professionals and those who are skilled and unskilled immigrants.

3. Review comparative international lessons from Canada, a country with much longer experience in attracting new immigrants to regional and rural areas.

4. Explore the policy implications of this research and communicate the results to relevant policy stakeholders at federal, state and local government level.

Current Progress

The contract between RIRDC and UTS for this research grant was signed on 31 January 2007. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC, formerly DIMIA) has committed $10,000 in-kind for three years to the project. The first Steering Committee Meeting with RIRDC and DIAC was held in Canberra on 22 February 2007. It was decided at the Steering Committee Meeting that a survey of skilled immigrants in the Riverina region of NSW, conducted by DIAC in 2006, be adopted for this project. Later this year, 3000 surveys will be posted out, using DIAC mailing and contact lists, to get 1000 responses that will be Stage 1 of the longitudinal survey which will provide contacts willing to engage in stages 2 (2008) and 3 (2009). After this meeting an application was made to the UTS Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) for approval to begin the fieldwork for the research project. I was informed by the UTS HREC by email on 18 April 2007 that ethics clearance had been granted for the project subject to a few points of clarification. We are now in a position to begin the fieldwork for this project.

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RIRDC Research in Progress – 4. Policies and institutions Project Title Regional development, diversification and

addressing the rural labour shortage RIRDC Project No.:

UWA-99A

Start Date: 1/08/06 Finish Date: 1/07/08 Researcher: Professor Matthew Tonts Organisation: University of Western Australia Phone: 08 6488 7329 Fax: 08 6488 7995 Email: mtonts@cyllene.uwa.edu.au Strategies

This project will investigate the dynamics of skilled labour shortages in rural Australia and identify strategies for resolving this issue. It will develop a national spatial analysis of rural labour market trends between 1996 and 2006, identify current and emerging skilled labour shortages, assess the impacts on six case study regions, and identify solutions to the problem.

Current Progress

The first part this research has involved developing a national spatial analysis of rural labour market trends between 1996 and 2006. This spatial analysis has involved a number of phases. Firstly, a detailed review of national and international literature was conducted to identify labour market drivers in rural areas, and assess the usefulness of methodologies of previous studies on labour market dynamics. The literature review also focused on previous policy responses, the drivers of these responses and the spatial impact of these responses on Australia’s rural labour markets. Following this review, a synoptic analysis of labour market trends using customised data from the ABS was conducted for the years 1996 and 2001. From this analysis, maps were constructed to illustrate relative spatial trends in labour force characteristics. The synoptic analysis and maps will be completed to the year 2006 when the ABS releases the 2006 census data (round two release). The survey for the detailed case study research has been developed and piloted in the southwest region of Western Australia. Over 1500 surveys were sent out during this initial stage. Currently, the research team are preparing to distribute this survey nationally (within the case study regions).

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RIRDC Research in Progress – 6. Farm health and safety Project Title Farm safety studies RIRDC Project No.:

US-141A

Start Date: 15/10/2005 Finish Date: 30/11/2007 Researcher: A/Prof Lyn Fragar Organisation: Australian Centre for Agricultural Heath and Safety

The University of Sydney Phone: 02 6752-8210 Fax: 02 6752-6639 Email: lfragar@health.usyd.edu.au Strategies

To establish the parameters for researching enterprise OHS risk factors and personal health related to work and life in agricultural production The output from this project will be in terms of reports and published papers, specifically: (i) Technical reports for publication and posting on the RIRDC website: (i) Australian Farm Fatalities (July 2000 to December 2004) (i) Farm Injury Optimal Dataset (i) Occupational Health and Safety on farms in Australia (i) Older Farmers and Sugar Cane Chartbooks and updated versions of

existing Chartbooks (i) Practical Guidelines publications (i) Mental health and wellbeing and its impact on farms in Australia (ii) Published papers in peer-reviewed professional journals (iii) A Translation Plan to be developed in association with Farmsafe

Australia to ensure that relevant findings are integrated with current OHS programs and rural health service plans that will include: a) Short reports in lay language for use in newsletters and websites b) Presentations at relevant conferences and industry forums

(iv) Publication of Sugar Cane package (v) Report of perceptions, attitudes and behaviours of participants in

longitudinal study (vi) Report on pathways to adoption of OHS on farms

Current Progress

Production of farm safety reports The National Farm Injury Data Centre has produced, or is in final stages of producing the following: 1. Chartbooks that succinctly display key national information on farm health and safety status:

• Occupational Health and Safety Risk in the Australian Dairy Industry – The Facts

• Health and Safety of Older Farmers in Australia – The Facts • ATV Injury on Australian Farms – The Facts • The mental health of the people in Australian Agriculture – The Facts

(to be submitted in august 2007) • Traumatic deaths in Australian agriculture – The Facts.

2. Guidance notes: A growing number of farm safety guidance note and guidelines are now being produced by a range of agencies using data and information generated by the National Farm Injury Data Centre and Collection. A new guideline, Grain Handling Safety – A Practical Guide, will be ready for publication in early June 2007. Research reports A revised edition of the Farm Injury Optimal Data Set, Version 3, is being

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edited and will be available in July 2007. This guideline is used by researchers and others engaged in collecting and collating farm injury data, and ensures that data is useful for improving health and safety in the agricultural industries. Progress with implementation of longitudinal study A study on farm population of people is being established who have agreed to participate in a longitudinal or ongoing study of enterprise OHS risk factors and personal health related to work and life in agricultural production. This project will:

• Define a baseline measure of prevalence in farm enterprises of key OHS risk factors

• Identify and describe the costs and benefits associated with adoption of OHS risk management action

• Describe levels of emotional wellbeing and stress of farm population participants and the impact of stress on the farm, the family and individuals

• Provide information in relation to changes in risk factors in following years in the study population.

Although progress is slower than originally planned, 250 farm enterprise subjects have been recruited to the study and have completed the Phase 1 survey. A total of 500 farms will be recruited. A preliminary analysis of data has been undertaken that shows that the study design appears to be robust and suitable for continuation into the future.

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RIRDC Research in Progress – 6. Farm health and safety Project Title Effectiveness of risk control measures to reduce

occupational exposure to pesticides RIRDC Project No.:

US-148A

Start Date: 01-Apr-2007 Finish Date: 30-Nov-2008 Researcher: A/Prof Lyn Fragar Organisation: Australian Centre for Agricultural Heath and Safety

The University of Sydney Phone: 02 6752-8210 Fax: 02 6752-6639 Email: lfragar@health.usyd.edu.au Strategies

To assist farmers in Australian agricultural industries to effectively reduce risk of harmful exposure to pesticides by investigating and reporting on: 1. How well label safety instructions of pesticides registered for use in

Australia align with best practice in OHS risk management 2. How well pesticides handlers in key industries comply with label

specifications for safety and what are the impediments to compliance 3. The availability and accessibility to farmers of the range of effective

personal protective clothing and equipment for use when handling pesticides

Current Progress

The project is being undertaken in three phases: 1. Examination of pesticide labels to determine how labels support farmers in

compliance with OHS best practice. 2. A consumer product and market research to determine the availability, type

and suitability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for sale/ available to farmers for use when using agricultural pesticides,

3. Conduct of focus group research to determine use patterns of PPE by farmers when using agricultural pesticides.

Preliminary ethical clearance has been sought. Development of protocols for Phase 1 is under way and project personnel are being identified to work on the project.

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RIRDC Research in Progress – 6. Farm health and safety Project Title Sustainable farming families - building and

extending our future RIRDC Project No.:

WDH-2J

Start Date: 1/7/05 Finish Date: 30/6/07 Researcher: Ms Susan Brumby Organisation: Western District Health Service Phone: 03 5551 8464 Fax: 03 5572 5371 Email: susan.brumby@wdhs.net Strategies

To expand the Sustainable Farming Families work into other industries establishing the basis for farming family health research in other agricultural industries and the opportunity for training other rural health professionals.

Current Progress

Year two cotton workshops were completed in May 2007, and sugar workshop in February 2007. Whilst recruitment in the initial year in the sugar industry was difficult they were very successful with Ayr having a 100% return in year 2. The Ingham workshop was caught in the February flooding which impacted on attendance. In total 79% returned (19/24) for both sugar workshops and an 86% return – 32/37 participants for cotton participants. Both the CRDC and the SRDC were represented at the year 2 workshops. Action planning is an important part of the SFF program and 100% of sugar actions plans were returned and 97% from the cotton industry. Evaluation of the program has indicated a high level of satisfaction from the participants with an indication of interest for further programs for their industry. Training of an additional four rural health professional occurred in the first year, however in year 2, staff were unable to be released, had changed jobs or were unable to attend, due to serious illness. However, good links with the Burdekin Health service remained.

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RIRDC Research in Progress – 8. Communication Project Title Heywire – The ABC gives regional youth a voice RIRDC Project No.:

ABB-7A

Start Date: 1/07/2006 Finish Date: 30/06/2007 Researcher: Justine McSweeney Organisation: Australian Broadcasting Corporation Phone: 03 9626 1861 Fax: 03 9626 1633 Email: mcsweeney.justine@abc.net.au Strategies

• To give regional/rural youth an opportunity to directly express their views

and aspirations to the country at large on ABC Radio • To raise awareness of issues facing regional and rural youth • To provide a unique opportunity for personal development for young

community leaders • To communicate the Heywire activities to all youth and the broader

community.

Current Progress

Launch of Heywire 2006: - media plan & promotion of the competition including ABC on-air

promotions - local community promotion of competition, update of web site - distribution of materials to schools, universities, colleges, industry,

government, community organisations - processing of entries

Selection of Winners: - resourcing local judging panels - selection of 39 regional winners - commencement of ongoing liaison with all winners - announcement of winners

Production of Heywire stories: - record winning story in situ - post-production of stories - summarise issues raised through stories - mastering process and production of CD for distribution to ABC regions,

programs, networks, media and community radio. Program notes on all stories and list of issues: - Transcripts and story audio on website - Compilation of broadcast ideas to share with other program-makers

Broadcast of Heywire Stories: - release of Heywire stories within ABC for broadcast - intensive summer broadcast of Heywire stories followed by stories as suit

programs Heywire Youth Issues Forum: - plan and implement program and events - liaison with stakeholders - confirm speakers and other support people - arrange travel for winners, speakers, facilitators, staff - arrange accommodation and facility needs with the AIS - organise events and dinners, including invitation lists

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- selection & design of merchandise - produce seminar kit for winners - media promotion of event - implementation of Forum

Wrap up and review Heywire 2006: - Process feedback forms - Letter to winners, photos, etc. - meet with stakeholders to review Heywire 2006-07 - publish issues and outcomes - recommendations for 2007-08

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RIRDC Research in Progress – 9. Program development Project Title Peri-urban issues: Is there a role for RIRDC and

what is their ‘space’? RIRDC Project No.:

AGL-9A

Start Date: 01-Jun-2007 Finish Date: 31-Dec-2007 Researcher: Michael Clarke Organisation: AgEconPlus Pty Ltd Phone: 02 9817 5888 Fax: Email: Strategies

The project will provide an up to date assessment of what are the agricultural issues, who is working in this area (eg LWA, BRS), what are the gaps, any future role for RIRDC and a pointer towards a communication strategy/research plan for this sector.

Current Progress

This project commenced in June 2007.

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RIRDC Research in Progress – 10. Capacity Building for Innovation in Rural Industries – Cooperative Venture Project Title On the fast-track: Bringing capacity building

research and practice together RIRDC Project No.:

DRD-8A

Start Date: 1 Dec 2006 Finish Date: 15 Jan 2008 Researcher: Dr Ruth Nettle Organisation: Dairy Australia Phone: (03) 8344 4581 Fax: (03) 8344 5037 Email: ranettle@unimelb.edu.au Strategies

The project aims to test and refine CVCB research findings in the key result areas of ‘What works and why?’ and ‘Fostering participation?’ amongst CVCB member organizations. The project focuses on current issues in capacity building of member organizations and will bring together key capacity building project managers and practitioners across at least five CVCB member organizations to enhance their capacity to choose (invest), design, support and evaluate their capacity building programs.

Current Progress

• CVCB members have been involved with the design, development and delivery of the project and have nominated participants and mentors from their industries for involvement in the project.

• The project team have developed a conceptual framework of key elements of capacity building to assist managers and practitioners locate the research of the CVCB to their capacity building issues and needs as managers and/or practitioners. This conceptual framework is comprised of the key elements of capacity building: outcomes, engagement (stakeholders, target audiences and communities of practice), design and delivery and evaluation. These key elements are supported by thinking about the tools, techniques and indicators that need to accompany capacity building initiatives.

• A workbook and a two day workshop based on this framework have been developed and delivered in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne involving forty three (43) participants and twenty (20) mentors from the sugar, dairy, cotton, wool, livestock, natural resource management, irrigation, university and community sectors. The participants in the project represent six of the member organisations and all states except South Australia are represented. These workshops have introduced the findings of the CVCB and related them to the needs and issues of participants, supported participants to develop an action plan for improvement in their capacity building approaches (focusing on the elements of capacity building introduced through the framework) and matched them with an appropriate mentor to support their action plan over the next six months and encourage the use of the CVCB research.

• Participants rated the workshops highly in terms of usefulness and effectiveness and indicated that they are now better able to apply capacity building principles and practices to their work. Participants valued the way they were matched with mentors and are excited to be mentored over the life of the project.

• The progress of the mentoring component of the project and the issues of mentors are being captured and supported by the mentor developer role in

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the project. • Participants are looking to improve productivity, profitability and

resilience of their industries and communities through their projects and are seeking to improve their engagement, design, delivery and evaluation strategies through the project. A mid-project review of progress of the participants is planned for August that will determine how far this has been achieved and how the project and mentoring is working.

• A final workshop to review the progress of participants and results of the project will be held in December 2007.

• The evaluation and communication plans developed for the project are on-track.

1 Practitioners are people involved in supporting innovation and change in industries. They include farm/rural advisers and consultants, project officers and managers/investors, project designers and extension staff.

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RIRDC Research in Progress – 10. Capacity Building for Innovation in Rural Industries – Cooperative Venture Project Title Maximising the connection between R&D

providers and agribusiness RIRDC Project No.:

GSA-2A

Start Date: 23 Aug 2005 Finish Date: 30 Apr 2008 Researcher: Gordon Stone Organisation: Gordon Stone and Associates Phone: (07) 4615 2255 Fax: (07) 4615 2330 Email: gordon@cdi.net.au Strategies

Establish and test a management system that will facilitate the transfer of RDE through Agribusiness to farmers.

Current Progress

The CVCB briefing seminar on 27 November 2006 summarised key issues from work to date. Interest centred on the proposed agribusiness segmentation, categories of agribusiness clients, motivation of agribusiness and their clients, the value of a ‘whole of RDC approach to agribusiness interaction’ and ideas on the way forward. It was considered essential to fully engage interested RDCs in a strategic future approach to agribusiness relationship development, so the Project Leader addressed the April CVCB meeting. It was agreed that a CVCB Agribusiness Working Group be formed to discuss the key issues and refine the project milestones. A working Group meeting with MLA, GRDC, CRDC, LWA, DA and CVCB representatives was convened in May to agree on the way forward. The project process was modified into five steps: 1. Review the interaction of member RDCs with agribusiness 2. Consider how to value add to these relationships through joint RDC

projects – to create a win for RDCs, growers and agribusiness 3. Formally engage with relevant RDCs in a roundtable forum – to discuss

how to establish relationships and what to bring to the table 4. Convene an Agribusiness and RDC Forum to formally consider how to

achieve the outcomes 5. Enter a partnership phase with agribusiness and RDCs.

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RIRDC Research in Progress – 10. Capacity Building for Innovation in Rural Industries – Cooperative Venture Project Title Cooperative Venture for Capacity Building

Evaluation Project RIRDC Project No.:

HAS-12A

Start Date: 15-Dec-2006 Finish Date: 30-Sep-2007 Researcher: Jan Paul van Moort Organisation: Hassall & Associates Pty Ltd Phone: 02 9241 5655 Fax: 02 9241 5684 Email: jvanmoort@hassall.com.au Strategies

To identify current 'best practices' in rural extension/education and training to assist in the design and delivery of learning.

Current Progress

Capacity building will continue to be an important issue in the future. It is regarded as a key intermediate outcome in improving the sustainability of rural/regional Australia. As such it will continue to be an area of investment in the future. The CVCB has contributed to develop a deeper understanding of capacity building across its four KRAs. At the same time the need for a structure, such as the CVCB, is recognised as being important for investment, collaboration and learning on capacity building by public and private institutions operating in the field. Based on the consultation and desktop review, the following capacity building priorities have been identified: • continued development of best practice methods and models • building the capacity building skills of professionals • improving the strategic fit of capacity building within organisations • collaboration and cooperation between organisations involved in capacity

building • informing policy development, particularly on capacity building. Investors in the CVCB recognis the importance of structure such as the CVCB in addressing these priorities. However there is a distinct preference for investing in applied outcomes which have a tangible and immediate benefit on the partner organisation. This provides two focus areas for future CVCB activates. First, the current CVCB knowledge base provides a platform to undertake future projects which build the strategic fit and skills of staff in relation to capacity building within organisations. Cross-organisational collaboration and informing policy provide the second focus area. This will require a shift from the current awareness raising on-going engagement of policy makers and the establishment of collaborative initiatives on capacity building between the partners.

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RIRDC Research in Progress – 10. Capacity Building for Innovation in Rural Industries – Cooperative Venture Project Title Incorporating CVCB outputs into member

programs RIRDC Project No.:

JMA-1A

Start Date: Finish Date: Researcher: John McKenzie Organisation: John McKenzie & Associates Pty Ltd Phone: (02) 6366 5000 Fax: (02) 6366 5142 Email: john@jmaconsulting.net.au Strategies

To ensure that all relevant outputs from the work of the CVCB are available to all member organisations and action learning projects are instigated by members to use and evaluate the findings of CVCB projects.

Current Progress

• On the Fast Track, a project designed to build the skills of people involved in capacity building activities, is up and running. The project takes an action research approach where participants from CVCB member organisations and their partners will work with mentors and learn from the experiences of each other to apply capacity building principles to their own programs. Integral to this is using the principles developed in CVCB research projects. A manual for capacity building has been published.

• A meeting of the CVCB steering committee considered progress reports from three major projects and developed a strategy for the conclusion of the current partnership in 07/08. A plan for canvassing interest in a new venture on capacity building was also considered.

• A progress report has been received from Hassall and Associates on the evaluation of the CVCB. Initial results indicate that the CVCB has provided a forum for capacity building and a leadership vehicle to

facilitate collaboration, learning and focus investment contributed to the understanding of capacity building around its four

key result areas lacked a clear pathway for the understanding to be translated into

practice change. • The policy synthesis project has held three workshops and completed a

synthesis document. • 21 research reports and 10 factsheets from the CVCB have been published.

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RIRDC Research in Progress – 10. Capacity Building for Innovation in Rural Industries – Cooperative Venture Project Title Communication services to the Cooperative

Venture for Capacity Building 2006/07 RIRDC Project No.:

NAT-3A

Start Date: 01-Oct-2006 Finish Date: 30-Jun-2007 Researcher: Anne Currey Organisation: Naturally Resourceful Pty Ltd Phone: 0414 878 175 Fax: 02 6686 5052 Email: anne@naturallyresourceful.com.au Strategies

To ensure that all relevant outputs from the work of the CVCB are available to all member organisations and action learning projects are instigated by members to use and evaluate the findings of CVCB projects.

Current Progress

The strategy was developed recognising that the CVCB program was in a mature stage in that many of its research projects would be completed by mid 2007. As such it focused on two areas: • Maintaining the key communications tools already developed, i.e. quarterly

newsletter, Capacit-E and the CVCB website • Producing accessible, innovative communications products and processes

for the two key audiences of CVCB information, i.e. policy makers and managers, and practitioners.

Key outcomes for the strategy were an increased awareness of CVCB activities within the Steering Committee and audiences for CVCB products. Activities to achieve this were: Email newsletters. The first issue of the newsletter was emailed in February 2003. Since then 15 newsletters in total have been produced and emailed to the distribution list. All editions can be downloaded from the CVCB’s website. Newsletters are also emailed to the communications staff of the CVCB partner organisations. Updates. Three updates for the On the Fast Track project were compiled and sent to Steering Committee members to keep them informed of progress. Contact database. A contact database containing names of 600+ people who have applied to be added to the Capacit-E email list has been maintained. Assessment of committee member awareness of policy project. A pre-project survey was completed, and a post project survey is scheduled for when the project is completed later in 2007. Test innovative ways of reaching audiences. A BLOG is being trialled as part of the On the Fast Project to test how effective this innovative technology is in reaching capacity building practitioners. Editing reports. A number of final reports were edited, as was a guide to capacity building. Develop and maintain CVCB webpage. The webpage is operating and up to date.

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RIRDC Research in Progress – 10. Capacity Building for Innovation in Rural Industries – Cooperative Venture Project Title Nesting community-based NRM for regional

accountability and grassroots cooperation RIRDC Project No.:

UNE-91A

Start Date: 1-Feb-04 Finish Date: 30-Nov-07 Researcher: Dr GR Marshall Organisation: University of New England Phone: 02 6773 3250 Fax: 02 6773 3245 Email: gmarshal@une.edu.au

Strategies The deliverables from the project would include: • a set of design principles for nested community-based NRM supported by a

user-friendly manual, as well as by discussion papers, a final project report, and journal and other scientific papers;

• recommendations on how government and community-based NRM processes might be better integrated;

• practical guidelines for regional/catchment organisations about how they might bolster their capacities to accept greater accountability, including through more effective local monitoring, sanctioning and enforcement;

• and • recommendations on how organisational innovations in community-based

NRM might be communicated better within the policy community to secure successful adoption

Current Progress

Response rates to the mail-out surveys of farmers in the South West Catchments, Fitzroy Basin and Mallee NRM regions were 29, 20 and 40 per cent. Statistical analysis of the survey data is behind schedule, as analysis has revealed more than the expected number of patterns in the data warranting deeper investigation. The discussion paper based on this analysis (task 10) should be circulated by July. Consequently commencement of task 11 (re-interview original set of key informants) will be delayed by a few months. The intention remains to submit the final project report by 30 November this year. An article drawn from the project has been accepted for publication in a special issue of the International Journal of the Commons. The article is entitled ‘Nesting, subsidiarity and community-based governance beyond the local level’, and the special issue is on ‘Commons in a Multi-Level World’. Meanwhile, the ‘in press’ version of the article can be downloaded as an Occasional Paper from http://www.ruralfutures.une.edu.au/publications/3.php?nav=Occasional%20Paper&publication=40

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RIRDC Research in Progress – 10. Capacity Building for Innovation in Rural Industries – Cooperative Venture Project Title Synthesising policy implications from CVCB program RIRDC Project No.:

UQ-126A

Start Date: 31 August 2006 Finish Date: 31 August 2007 Researcher: Dr Michael Cuthill Organisation: UQ Community Engagement Centre, University of Queensland Phone: 07 3381 1278 Fax: 07 3381 1407 Email: m.cuthill@uq.edu.au Strategies

The project aims to enhance the capacity building and extension components of emerging policies and institutional arrangements.

Current Progress

The Policy Synthesis and Implications project is in the final stage. To start the project, key stakeholders were interviewed and some principles and a vision for capacity building began to emerge. Links were developed with key national policy makers, particularly in the joint Australian Government NRM Team, and in DAFF with people involved in capacity building. A Discussion Paper synthesising all of the CVCB research reports completed since the inception of the CVCB, was prepared and has been widely circulated amongst policy makers. Two workshops have been held, one with members of the CVCB and key national policy makers, and the other with a broad range of people from across Australia, all involved in capacity building. Currently underway are two case studies on collaboration to achieve capacity building in rural industries and NRM. One is a collaboration between the Queensland Farmers Federation and the Queensland Regional Natural Resource Management Groups Collective. The second is the Land, Water and Wool program. Strengths and weaknesses in collaboration will be highlighted. The key findings from this project will be presented to the Steering Committee and other key stakeholders and researchers at a workshop at the end of July; which is helping to build collaboration, and together develop future plans.

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RIRDC Research in Progress – 10. Capacity Building for Innovation in Rural Industries – Cooperative Venture Project Title The roles for capacity building in regional NRM RIRDC Project No.:

UWA-92A

Start Date: 1 Aug 2005 Finish Date: 31 Jul 2007 Researcher: David Pannell Organisation: University of Western Australia Phone: (08) 9842 0820 Fax: (08) 9842 0877 Email: David.Pannell@uwa.edu.au Strategies

Allow CMAs to better identify issues and areas where capacity building is the most appropriate and effective response for NRM outcomes, focussing on the example of salinity.

Current Progress

The project continues to progress extremely well. We have completed research on capacity needs for regional NRM in Victoria, and have progressed well in Western Australia. A national survey on this topic has been completed. Research on the implications of demographic changes on the capacity needs of CMAs and service providers is continuing and going well. An analysis of capacity building investment priorities for North Central CMA for salinity has been completed. The project website at www.sif3.org includes articles, discussion papers, funding proposals, PowerPoint presentations, details on the project team and collaborators, and a long list of news/activities. Numerous presentations have been made to audiences ranging from landholders to senior bureaucrats and politicians. North Central CMA has rewritten its Dryland Management Plan in response to our recommendations and will commence implementation in 2007–08. Our report on internal capacity issues has been reviewed by their board. Feedback is extremely positive. Overall, the influence of the project on the CMA has already been profound. We will soon provide detailed recommendations to SCRIPT in WA. Our decision framework, SIF3, has been discussed in detail by governments. Messages from SIF3 have been discussed by Standing Committee. We have influenced future directions for the main NRM programs.