Extension and Adoption Training Program 2026

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 throughout the program.

Participation is flexible: register for some or all dates.

Dates: 6 May | 11 May | 12 May | 27 May | 9 June | 18 June

Location: Modules 2 and 3 (11-12 May) are in person at the DPIRD office, 1 Nash St, Perth 6000. All other modules are online.

Dates and Delivery

Where module is marked with ***, it is highly recommended.

Module 1 – Prioritising Projects

Wednesday 6 May, 10am to 12:30pm – 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, 10am to 4pm – 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 9 am to 2pm – 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, 10am to 12:30pm – 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, 10am to 12:30pm – 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, 10am to 12:30pm – 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.

Learning Objectives

While this six-part program is designed as continuing professional development for those who have some experience in extension and adoption and are ready to take their skills to a higher level, newcomers are also welcome and will benefit from taking part.

Learning objectives include:

1. Understand modern approaches to extension and adoption,
2. Identify and document your project context including Research, Development, Extension and Adoption (RDE&A) outcomes and priorities,
3. Know how to develop the business case for any RDE&A work your group wants to undertake,
4. Clarify target audiences’ desired levels of change,
5. Understand the steps in developing an extension plan to achieve desired level change,
6. Understand the key steps in developing an event plan for a field day or workshop,
7. Have a basic understanding of facilitation techniques used in an agricultural context,
8. Understand the basic steps in monitoring and evaluation.

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

• 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
• Interactive Q&A format – The sessions will be interactive with the instructor fielding questions as they arise.

Places and pricing

There is space for 20 delegates for the in-person modules and places will be filled on a first come, first served basis.

• For the in-person modules (11 – 12 May), registrations will close on Monday 4 May.
• Hub Consortium Partners and GGA network members have access to subsidised tickets with a ticketing fee of $55 per online session and $110 for the face-to-face sessions (plus ticketing fee).
• All other industry delegates are welcome with a ticketing fee of $110 per online session and $176 for the face-to-face sessions (plus ticketing fee).

Accommodation

Participants for in-person modules will need to organise their own accommodation.

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).