Summary
The Making More from Sheep (MMfS) project is the key extension and communication program for MLA and AWI for the Australian sheep industry. It sought to provide producers with the knowledge, skills and confidence that drove practice changes to increase the profitability, sustainability and risk management capacity of their enterprise operations. Tasmania's MMfS 2010 - 2013 program (Phase II) was developed and implemented in line with the agreed State Business Plan, which focused on three key target areas; business plan development, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. The Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture's (TIA) Senior Industry Development and Extension Officer, Mr Andrew Bailey (MSc), successfully managed this project as State Coordinator, for the period of the current contract.
Accountability and performance success focused on the following key deliverables:
1. Development and implementation of annual operating plans.
2. Proactive relationship management and networking with key stakeholders including producers, MLA, AWI, industry partners, deliverers/facilitators, and interstate colleagues.
3. Design and coordination of extension activities to meet the needs of producers eg. producers manual, workshops, case studies, interactive applied learning activities, field days, and distribution of information through a wide variety of communication channels.
4. Development and maintenance of a provider database.
5. Collection, collation, monitoring and analysis of participant evaluation data, to evaluate and report on progress against plans and performance targets and build knowledge and understanding of current and future producer needs
a. Category A activities focused on building awareness, satisfaction, value and intention to change in providers who participated in extension activities (KPI 60% evaluation sheets completed and returned).
b. Category B activities focused on evaluation of shifts in knowledge, skills and confidence levels of providers who participated in extension activities (KPI 80% evaluation sheets completed and returned).
c. Category C activities focused on assessing practice change and extension program impact on providers who participated in extension activities (KPI 80% evaluation sheets completed and returned).
For the 2010-2013 reporting period, the MMfS program was delivered successfully at 41 separate events throughout Tasmania. A total of 768 producers and their families/staff participated in these events, significantly exceeding all A, B and C targets set. Invaluable networks and relationships with a wide range of stakeholders were maintained and grown over the 2010 2013 reporting period, particularly with Tasmanian producers. This is reflected in a significantly enhanced provider database and well-supported events by industry partners; not to mention the wide range of high-calibre presenters/experts we were able to engage for our extension events.
Most of the extension events were workshops, field walks, or seminars , and showed the significant value which can be gained by undertaking collaborative events and coordinating MMfS activities with other programs and industry partners associated with sheep, animals, and grazing projects.
Indicators for monitoring and evaluation were high, with an average of 87% producer satisfaction reported. Producers also reported an average event value level of 86% and average increases in producer confidence of approximately 1.3 units. Changes to attendance registration and the use of workshop clicker technology also saw the evaluation return rate at 100% in the second two years of the reporting period, after lower than anticipated return rates for Category A and B events in year 1. This has ensured that the overall performance of the Tasmanian delivery of the project at the completion of Phase II was very high and the projects contracted performance indicators. The reputation and profile of MMfS in Tasmania is very positive. It is recognised as delivering timely, credible, independent and high-value information to producers in a manner that is engaging and allows for strong interaction and a range of learning styles. There has also been a strong emphasis on ensuring adult learning principles are foremost, including recognition of prior experience and a blended design style which incorporates both new information and tactile reinforcement.
