Rural Innovation Research Group Vision
RIRG (Rural Innovation Research Group) is recognised and valued for its research and teaching contributions to rural communities, landscapes and industries which are adapting and thriving amidst change at the local to international scales.
Rural Innovation Research Group Mission
RIRG generates new knowledge and capacity for effective action amidst change, through innovative education, research and development with a broad range of stakeholders.
Our research and education focus
We carry out research and education in:
Transitions in farming systems and rural communities
Our aim is to understand and improve the transition processes that occur as farmers make sense of and act in-relation-to their changing operating context. This includes research on farm decision-making, business and risk management, climate change adaptation, industry governance and transitions towards sustainability.
Agricultural extension and change management
Our aim is to understand and improve processes of farm practice change, inclusive of processes at farm, industry, regional and policy scales. This includes research on public‐private sector service roles; advisory capacity; extension design and delivery; capacity building; and extension of for sustainability in Australia and internationally.
Natural resource management (NRM)
Our aim is to understand and improve processes of natural resource management by farmers, industries and communities. This includes research on resilience; adaptation; social learning, NRM governance, community‐based NRM, sustainable farming; rural community development.
Knowledge and innovation systems
We aim to understand and improve agricultural innovation systems. This includes research on knowledge production, learning and innovation systems; institutional arrangements and innovation system governance, social implications of technological developments; building and engaging communities of practice; collaboration and collective action in Australia and internationally.
Work and change in agri-food
We aim to understand and improve rural workforce development including human resource management, workforce planning and action, quality of working life and jobs and decent work.
Indigenous land and sea management
We aim to understand and give precedence to indigenous ways of knowing with respect to land and sea management.
Education
Postgraduate education
- AGRI90092 Agricultural Advisory Practice & Theory
- AGRI90093 Agricultural Extension
- AGRI90089 Leading Workforce Change in Agri-food
- AGRI90086 Communicating Agricultural Science
- AGRI90094 Managing Innovation and Change
- MC-ENV Master of Environment
Undergraduate education
Other education – Micro Credentials
- 0HOWP0001 People and change in agriculture
- 0DELI0001 Supporting farm practice change
- 0EVAL0001 Evaluation in agricultural innovation
- Segmentation approaches for agriculture
RIRG staff also teach into a diverse range of subjects as regular guest lecturers. Lectures cover topics on the following: the social dimensions of precision agriculture; the social dimensions of climate change adaptation; Indigenous perspectives on environmental sustainability; social dimensions of agriculture; People in farming innovation agriculture; Human-nature relationships; and Qualitative analysis.
Contact the team
For enquiries, please contact Professor Ruth Nettle - ranettle@unimelb.edu.au