Sophie Wadley (1), Tim Hollier (2)

Preferred presentation format: Poster

Affiliation(s): Department of Primary Industries, Victoria.

Title: Miss Sophie Wadley Position: Beef Industry Development Officer Organisation: Department of Primary Industries, Victoria. Contact email: sophie.wadley@dpi.vic.gov.au Contact phone: 02 6030 4500

Keywords: Drought, stress, workshop, adult learning principles

Beef grazing is the major agricultural industry in North East Victoria. The North East region of Victoria was drought declared in April 2003. Below average rainfall over the last four years and a failed spring in 2002 led to fodder and water (stock and domestic) shortages, creating significant stress to rural communities.

A series of seventeen workshops entitled ‘Feeding for Recovery’ and ‘Tips for Surviving a Hard Winter’ were held during the autumn and early winter of 2003. These workshops aimed to provide drought stricken farmers in North East Victoria with tools and options for dealing with drought and recovery. 350 farmers participated in these workshops.

The workshops were designed to attract livestock producers disheartened by the accumulated stress of a protracted drought. Breakfast or afternoon sessions were run on farm as a way to attract ‘busy’ farmers, without disrupting their whole day. The format was designed around adult learning principles and included presentations, group discussions, visual demonstrations and paddock walks. An informal format was encouraged, allowing participants to ask questions and share experiences, to enhance group learning.

As well as providing the farming community with options for dealing with drought, the workshops played an important role of bringing producers together. It gave the producers the opportunity to share experiences and realise that they were not alone in facing the stresses of drought.

The workshops were a strong sign to the community of the Department’s commitment to emergency response and understanding of client’s circumstances and needs. It enabled contact with producers whom may not have had involvement in other Department activities and promotion of further extension programs.

Key learning points:

As a result of the delivery of drought workshops the following key learning’s have occurred:

• Understanding of client’s circumstances and needs, to attract their interest.
• To address different learning styles within the target audience.
• To provide an environment that facilitates interaction between producers.

Key learning’s for producers:

• Strategies for managing drought and realisation that they are not alone facing such circumstances.