Enhanced extension coordination is a new program being developed as part of the Queensland Government’s Reef Water Quality Program, managed by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF). A key element of this new program is the development of a training program that will further improve the skills and capability of those providing extension services to farmers. This training will be open to anyone working in this field, including industry development officers, researchers, agricultural advisors, agronomists and consultants.
Reef Alliance
Enhanced Extension Coordination
What is extension?
Extension is the process of enabling change in individuals, communities and industries. You might not even call yourself an extension officer, but instead an industry development officer, researcher, advisor, agronomist, consultant or perhaps something else.
What is the Enhanced Extension Coordination project?
A change to land management practices is essential to meet water quality targets for the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) catchment areas. This project will improve coordination, collaboration and communication across different producer and extension networks to increase adoption of agricultural land management practices leading to improved water quality.
Regional Coordinators have been appointed to collaborate with extension networks throughout the six GBR Natural Resource Management (NRM) regions to identify ways to better apply and tailor extension services to meet required needs and recommend other services that can support whole-of-farm outcomes.
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Your Regional Extension Coordination team
This project will interact with a wide range of Australian and Queensland government funded projects, particularly those delivering on-ground services to producers to ensure minimal duplication and maximum impact.
Contact your local Regional Extension Coordination team member here.
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Regional Extension Networks
Improved coordination, collaboration and communication will value add to existing and future extension work, removing duplication or clashes. The regional extension planning process and associated funding will help deliver relevant and prioritised projects. There will also be capacity building activities for networks to increase their knowledge and understanding around generic extension skills and also industry specific technical skills.
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Funding
The Queensland Government’s Reef Water Quality Program has supported the Enhanced extension project through $3 million funding for coordination (over three years).
In addition, an extra $2.5 million has been allocated for Flexible and Peer to Peer projects in the Reef catchment (over two years). Please contact your local Regional Extension Co-ordinator for more information.
What skills are needed?
A Reef Extension Training Needs Analysis (TNA) was undertaken in October 2018 to guide both the range and the form of the training and development activities to build the capacity of extension service providers in the Great Barrier Reef catchments, as part of the Enhanced Extension Coordination program. Over 150 people responded and the results are summarised in this executive summary. To receive the full report, contact John James (contact details below).
Stay in touch
To hear when new training courses are available, please subscribe to our Enhanced Extension eBulletin.
Training subsidies
To help you grow your extension and technical skills, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) is offering subsidies for those working in the Reef catchments to cover the registration cost of approved courses. You (or your employer) will still need to cover your salary, travel and accommodation.
Just follow these three-steps…
- Register your interest in receiving a subsidy for attending a suitable Reef-related training activity, using the Reef Extension T&D database.
- Follow the instructions in the email you then receive, registering and paying for the course upfront.
- Once you’ve successfully completed the training, apply for the refund using the Reef Extension T&D database.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Dr John James
Manager (Reef Extension Training Development)
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Telephone 07 4529 4125 or 0417 617 572
Email john.james@daf.qld.gov.au
Upcoming training opportunities
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Agronomy in Practice
100% subsidy available for those working in Reef catchments
This course is designed to improve the knowledge, skills and confidence of advisers in the fertiliser industry. It is presented by Incitec Pivot’s experienced agronomy team, using an interactive and engaging program with hands-on activities and assessments at every step of the way. It includes best practice soil, plant tissue and water sampling, testing, interpreting analysis results and making fertiliser recommendations. Participants will leave the course skilled in developing effective nutrient programs for their clients, and with the highest level of industry recognition.
Successful completion of Agronomy in Practice is rewarded by:
- Full access to Nutrient Advantage software and tools
- Fertcare Level C accreditation, and
- Recognition as a Fertcare Accredited Advisor.
Workshops are limited to just ten participants, so new ones are being scheduled to meet the demand. Currently there are places available at Townsville on 26-28 November 2019. To check course availability, either call Marcia on 1800 803 453 or send her an email.
You need to register and pay for the course upfront and you’ll be reimbursed upon presentation of the tax invoice, the Fertcare Level C certificate and a short report (less than 500 words) of how your attendance contributed to improving the water quality of the Great Barrier Reef.
Register now to receive the subsidy using the Reef Extension T&D database.
For all the details and to register for this course, head over to the Nutrient Advantage website.
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Fertcare Level C
100% subsidy available for those working in Reef catchments
Fertcare Level C training covers the detailed and complex knowledge of environmental issues, including the use of a fertiliser environmental risk assessment and management methodology for experienced advisors who provide fertiliser recommendations.
Face-to-face workshops are held on demand, where 10 to 15 students have requested training in a general location.
FA/AFSA members: $1020.58 inc GST
Non FA/AFSA members: $1097.58 inc GST
Register now to receive the subsidy using the Reef Extension T&D database.
For all the details and to register for this course, head over to the Back Paddock website.
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Behavioural Science Extension Training
100% subsidy available for those working in Reef catchments
A full-day workshop delivered by Behaviour Innovation for those involved in delivering extension services in the Reef catchments. The aim is to offer a unique approach to enhancing the practices of on-the-ground extension staff by providing a toolkit of new skills in behavioural science.
The training will focus on concepts such as:
- The science of human behaviour
- How to understand farmers’ motivations and barriers to adoption
- How to engage with a broader farmer base
- Techniques for communicating more effectively with farmers
- Strategies for managing resistance
- Techniques for measuring and validating your effectiveness as an extension professional.
This event is being offered at five locations as follows:
- Biggenden (18 July)
- Rockhampton (1 August)
- Innisfail (13 August)
- Ingham (15 August)
- Townsville (5 September).
The registration cost of $985 inc GST is able to be reimbursed for those delivering extension services in the Reef catchments, with a maximum of three people from the one organisation being subsidised at each workshop location. See all the details over here.
As subsidies are limited, if you’re depending on one to be able to attend, apply first for the subsidy using the Reef extension T&D database and once you’ve received your approval email, register and pay for the workshop.