South-West WA Hub Update

Welcome to our new-look South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (SW WA Hub) newsletter – we hope you like as much as we do!

To kick off the New Year, we have some exciting developments and opportunities to share with you. 

Some of you may already be aware that expressions of interest (EOIs) have opened for two initiatives that will help ensure that the SW WA Hub’s priorities and activities are targeted and driven from the ground up. Please scroll down for more information about these EOIs.

The team has also been busy helping to facilitate applications by organisations for Australian Government Drought Resilient Soils and Landscapes grants. Read on to find out more.

Engagement and collaboration with Partners and stakeholders is an ongoing priority for the SW WA Hub and you are welcome to make contact with us via swwadroughthub@gga.org.au. Information about the Hub is available on the Grower Group Alliance website.

Please feel free to forward this monthly newsletter to colleagues, friends or clients.

Regional Node Leads and Regional Advisory Committees

Individuals and groups passionate about improving the drought resilience of local farmers and their communities are encouraged to apply for exciting new roles that form part of two initiatives.

The SW WA Hub seeks expressions of interest (EOIs) from organisations for Regional Node Lead roles and from individuals for Regional Advisory Committee member positions.

Regional Node Leads will gather and share knowledge, coordinate local activities and support SW WA Hub activities. Regional Advisory Committees will provide guidance on priority issues impacting the drought and climate resilience of farming systems, their industries and communities.

Drought Resilient Soils and Landscapes Grants

The SW WA Hub recently helped to facilitate applications by a number of different organisations for funding available through the $23 million Drought Resilient Soils and Landscapes grants program.

This program will fund projects that demonstrate land management practices that support the drought resilience of Australian agriculture through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

The deadline was January 11. Many organisations submitted quality applications, and the SW WA Hub actively contributed to and assisted several of these, with the aim of ensuring a collaborative approach and to maximise opportunities for success.

Please see below other locally-relevant news from the Future Drought Fund

Better climate data for farmers goes live

Two digital tools are delivering Australian farmers the best available climate data to help prepare for future drought and climate change.

The Drought Resilience Self-Assessment Tool (DR.SAT) and Climate Services for Agriculture (CSA) platform are two key investments under the $5 billion Future Drought Fund.

Mentors to shape future leaders

A total of 165 participants were selected in the second of three rounds to find mentees and mentors under the Future Drought Fund’s Drought Resilience Leaders mentoring program.
 
The mentoring program pairs farmers wanting to increase their skills in managing drought and climate resilience and adaptation with experienced farmers and agricultural professionals.

The third and final round will open for applications in early 2022. 

Join ‘lunch and learn’ webinar series

As part of the Drought Resilience Leaders Program, the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) is hosting an eight-part ‘lunch and learn’ webinar series which explores what it takes to make Australian rural communities drought and climate change resilient and ready to take on the future.
 
Participate in panel discussions with regional leaders and industry professionals and learn from real-life case studies from across the country. Free of charge, the webinar series is open to all.

To receive regular email updates directly from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, subscribe via the ‘Have your say’ webpage.