Overview
This project provided desktop research services involving mapping, reviewing, and curating of relevant knowledge resources on key agricultural extension theory and practice in Australia as a key input into two components of the RIRDC project: Consolidating Targeted and Practical Extension for Australian Farmers and Fishers project (2015-2016).
Project Summary
The aims of the project were to:
- Identify key sources of knowledge based on an agreed curation framework
- Provide reviewed resources for curation in the form of a database which including published, non-published and multimedia material according to the curation framework
- Review and synthesise key messages according to the curation framework
- Identify gaps in extension knowledge
- Review the extension hub curated resources
- Provide a final report which will address a series of strategic topics based on the review of key resources for national web-based extension knowledge hub.
Strategic topic areas include:
- Outlining what key changes have occurred in extension practise, theory and policy in the last 20 years and what is driving this change
- Outlining what extension theories are applied in current extension practice
- Describing the methods and tools currently used to practice extension in Australia and overseas
- Identifying the range of current roles and functions of extension providers and advisers
- Describing what impact extension services have and how is this measured
- Outlining any knowledge gaps and constraints that could impact on effective extension practice in the future (programme and activity levels)
- Making some recommendations for future curation of extension knowledge
This project had strong links to the two components of RIRDC’s Consolidating Extension Services project:
- The Extension Practice Hub; and
- A national evaluation of Australia's extension system
Project Duration
December 2015 - December 2016
Research Group Leader/Key contact
Dr Barbara King
Other Personnel
Nicole Reichelt, Ruth Nettle
Contact details
Dr Barbara King; kingbj@unimelb.edu.au
Partnership details
Funded by: Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation
Resources and links
Output 1: A curated database of extension knowledge
Output 2: An interim report – mapping the key sources of knowledge against the research questions
Output 3: A final report – a review of the knowledge on Extension, including a synthesis of the key knowledge findings against the research questions
Extension Practice Hub - consolidates and organises existing knowledge, tools and resources in an accessible way so that they can be easily used to inform the design and implementation of extension by public and private providers.
Publications
Desktop curation of extension and adoption knowledge: Final Project Report to RIRDC. Rural Innovation Research Group – University of Melbourne
Taking strategic action to improve extension services for Australian Farmers and Fishers
Report to RIRDC – a synthesis of findings from the project “Extension and Adoption for Australian Farmers and Fishers: consolidating targeted and practical extension services for Australian Farmers and Fishers”. Rural Innovation Research Group – University of Melbourne 2016
