L.LSM.0037 - Sheep Reproduction Strategic Partnership - Program Coordinator

Summary

Improving sheep reproductive performance, reducing ewe and lamb mortality and improving animal welfare is a key priority for Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), Australian sheep and wool producers and other industry partners. Following completion of the Sheep Reproduction RD&E Investment Plan 2012-2017 (SRRIP) and a recent stock-take of ongoing RD&A projects, MLA along with stakeholder partners is now seeking to develop new strategies and initiatives to improve lamb survivability outcomes. To do so and recognising the need for a coordinated approach to improving reproductive performance, MLA is engaging with industry partners to develop a new Sheep Reproduction Strategic Partnership (SRSP).This contract is to engage an external Program Coordinator for the Sheep Reproduction Strategic Partnership with a key focus on working with the Management Committee to develop the partnership’s strategic direction, objectives and engagement processes.

Objectives

By 18 December 2025 the Consultant has:

1. Assisted MLA in the development, implementation and maintenance of a comprehensive stakeholder engagement plan to inform and keep industry stakeholders up to date on project progress.
2. Overseen the planning and hosting of a series of engagement events to include an annual program forum and quarterly webinars (or alternative adoption platforms e.g. podcasts).
3. Provide quarterly reports to MLA and the Management Committee on progress.
4. Collated and managed an ongoing database of projects funded via the Sheep Reproduction Strategic Partnership as well as relevant projects funded by other industry partners or international stakeholders.
5. Actively evaluated other potential funding sources that align with program objectives.
6. Coordinated the review of applications received to the partnership.
7. Coordinated SRSP Committee Meetings, including annual face to face meeting.

Key findings

The SRSP Program Coordinator has:

1.    Delivered SRSP Sheep Reproduction RD&A Alert to 285 direct subscribers, including 10 international researchers, with further distribution through industry networks reaching more than 1,500 additional recipients.
2.    Facilitated an SRSP Early Career Researcher webinar featuring four researchers presenting outcomes from key sheep reproduction projects, attracting 36 attendees and generating ongoing views of the webinar recording.
3.    Presented SRSP research and extension updates to producers and industry stakeholders at major industry engagement events, increasing awareness of available research, workshops and extension materials.
4.    Delivered the sessions of the SRSP Sheep Reproduction Professional Development Program to AGnVET staff and facilitated evaluation of the program through a targeted MER survey.
5.    Developed and implemented a Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (MER) survey to assess participant knowledge gain, confidence and satisfaction following the professional development program.
6.    Provided ongoing communication, stakeholder engagement and executive support activities to ensure effective delivery of SRSP extension, capacity-building and reporting commitments.

Benefits to industry

The SRSP Program Coordinator delivers a coordinated research, development and adoption (RD&A) approach to improving sheep reproductive performance by: 
Increasing awareness and uptake of current sheep reproduction research through regular communication and extension activities.
Connecting researchers, advisers and producers through webinars, industry events and knowledge-sharing activities.

MLA action

MLA will review the outcomes and benefits delivered through the current SRSP investment to inform decisions on the scope, structure and priorities of future sheep reproduction RD&A investments and industry coordination activities.

Future research

MLA maintains an ongoing RD&A investment portfolio focused on improving sheep reproductive performance.