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Community and Regional Engagement

The Institute undertakes and contributes a tremendous amount in regional engagement activities. Projects are usually developed with key stakeholders, local businesses and regional development groups, community representatives, farmers, State and local government agencies. Many projects are developed over time spent building shared objectives, trust and networks within particular locales or industry/business groups.

The Rural Industry Clusters, Farmer Retirement and Tilbuster Commons are examples. Several projects exemplify a seamless engagement in understanding and building knowledge and ‘action-learning’ with communities. For example, the “opening the farm Gateway” project which gathers knowledge on IT needs of farmers and rural services, while providing hands on assistance.

The Tilbuster Commons project, the Guyra small business study and, the Tamworth and Inverell Regional Businesses projects also incorporate ‘action learning’ research.

Research engagement for learning by Institutional organisations has occurred with the Murray Darling Basin commission and Healthy Rivers (NSW) Commission. Such regional engagement activities are important, but take are difficult to fund because they require a considerable investment of staff time.

The staff contribute to several forums and submissions on this issue and have met with Federal and State Ministers to seek funding for community and regional engagement activities.