The South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (SW WA Hub) invites you to take part in our Extension & Adoption Training Program, a six-part professional development series designed to strengthen your skills in agricultural extension and adoption practices.
This program is perfect for grower group staff, industry consultants, and extension or research professionals looking to enhance their ability to support farmer adoption of new practices.
Approximately 21 hours of content will be delivered through the program.
Participation is flexible: register for some or all dates.
Dates and Format
6 May | 11 May | 12 May | 27 May | 9 June | 18 June
Prioritising Projects: Wednesday, 6 May 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM AWST
Extension Planning: Monday, 11 May 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM AWST
Facilitation: Tuesday, 12 May 2026, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM AWST
Event Planning: Wednesday, 27 May 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM AWST
Using AI in Extension: Tuesday, 9 June 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM AWST:
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL): Thursday, 18 June 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM AWST
Formats: Modules 2 and 3 (11- 12 May) are in person at the DPIRD office, 1 Nash St, Perth 6000. All other modules are online.
Cost
Hub Consortium Partners and GGA Network Members have access to subsidised tickets with a ticketing fee of $50 per online session and $100 for the face-to-face sessions (plus GST and booking fee).
All other industry delegates are welcome with a ticketing fee of $100 per online session and $160 for the face-to-face sessions (plus GST and booking fee).
A waitlist will run for in-person workshops.
Registration
30 places available for the in-person workshops, with 20 spots reserved exclusively for Hub Consortium Partners and GGA Network Members.
Accommodation
Participants for in-person modules will need to organise their own accommodation.
Delivery
Where content is marked with ***, it is highly recommended.
Module 1 – Prioritising Projects
Wednesday, 6 May 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM – Online
This training supports participants to clearly define and refine investment and strategic priorities for their group or business. Participants will learn how to identify key focus areas and develop them into well‑structured proposals suitable for funding applications or for guiding research, development and extension activities.
Module 2 – Extension Planning ***
Monday, 11 May 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM – In person at DPIRD Office, 1 Nash St, Perth
This workshop introduces an extension planning framework to support effective practice change. Participants will learn the fundamentals of extension and adoption planning, including identifying target audiences and designing a coordinated suite of extension activities to support the uptake of new knowledge and practices.
Module 3 – Facilitation ***
Tuesday, 12 May 2026, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM – In person at DPIRD Office, 1 Nash St, Perth
This facilitation training is designed to build confidence and capability in facilitating meetings and group discussions. Participants will learn practical facilitation techniques, including how to structure discussions, manage group dynamics and effectively engage stakeholders.
Module 4 – Event Planning ***
Wednesday, 27 May 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM AWST – Online
This training focuses on planning and delivering effective extension events. Participants will learn how to maximise the value of guest presenters and subject matter experts, design engaging event formats, and ensure events are aligned with audience needs and expectations to drive strong participation and impact.
Module 5 – Using AI in Extension
Tuesday, 9 June 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM AWST – Online
This new training course explores the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in extension, emphasising that technology cannot replace human relationships, trust, or judgement. Participants will learn how to gather, verify, and convert information using AI to create relevant extension materials. The training aims to develop skills to ask the right questions, critically evaluate AI outputs, and use AI effectively and appropriately.
Module 6 – Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL)
Thursday, 18 June 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM – Online
This training provides an introduction to monitoring and evaluation to support effective program delivery and continuous improvement. Participants will learn how to define meaningful evaluation questions, understand the steps in developing a monitoring and evaluation plan, select appropriate methods, and use evaluation findings to inform management decisions and demonstrate impact.
Benefits of the Extension & Adoption program
The benefits of doing this program will be immediate but can last a lifetime:
- Gain clarity around the technical delivery process,
- Develop confidence and professional skills to enhance relevance of your group to stakeholders,
- Define your organisation’s extension and adoption (E&A) vision and goals,
- Learn how to identify where delivery format needs adjustment for impact,
- Improve your group’s ability to have local impact with adoption of improved practice.
Format and Features
Interactive Q&A format – The sessions will be interactive with the instructor fielding questions as they arise.
Delivery – Due to the geographical spread of stakeholders, delivery will be in a blended learning format with two workshops in person and four online using MS Teams.
Handouts – A useful collection of handouts will be curated.
Peer-to-peer learning – Enjoy an interactive process and benefit from other experienced agriculture industry professionals with similar challenges
Facilitators
Enquiries
Direct any enquiries about participation in the event to Cassie Howell (0429 659 219, cassandra.howell@gga.org.au) or Theo Nabben (0403196381, theo.nabben@gga.org.au).
