The latest news, events and opportunities from the SW WA Hub
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Welcome from the Director
Welcome to the April edition of the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (SW WA Hub) newsletter.
If you’ve got extension activities on the horizon, now is a great time to brush up on your skills, whether it’s event planning, workshop facilitation, or evaluation. Our Extension and Adoption training program kicks off next week, and registrations for the in-person modules (8 – 9 May) close this Friday. This practical series offers something for everyone, from seasoned professionals looking to refine their approach, to newcomers keen to build confidence in delivering extension. Find out more below.
In this edition, we also take you to the Nullarbor, where pastoralists recently gathered at Kanandah Station for a hands-on Pastoral Business Toolbox workshop hosted by the Goldfields Nullarbor Rangelands Biosecurity Association. Participants travelled hundreds of kilometres to connect with peers, share experiences and take part in practical discussions around land and water management, business planning, and mental health and wellbeing.
We also feature research happening just beneath the surface – literally. UWA PhD candidate Huyen Pham, supported by the Hub, is investigating how a natural root trait in wheat could help crops perform better in acidic soils.
Huyen's work could play a key role in improving productivity and drought resilience in Western Australia.
Plus, there's a chance to shape future soil and plant nutrition training by completing a short survey from SoilsWest. Your feedback will help design free, accessible learning modules tailored to the needs of Western Australian farmers.
Finally, don’t miss the latest Dry Season Resources podcast episodes, covering virtual fencing, drone monitoring, and strategies for navigating back-to-back dry seasons in mixed farming systems.
I hope you enjoy this month’s stories. If this newsletter was forwarded to you, why not subscribe to receive the SW WA Hub’s latest updates, events, and opportunities directly in your inbox?
Kind regards,
Dr Jo Wisdom | Hub Director
South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub
General News
Dr Joanne Wisdom: Cultivating change through research and innovation
This month, the WA Agricultural Research Collaboration (WAARC) celebrated the remarkable career of Dr Jo Wisdom, South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub Director and Innovation Lead at the Grower Group Alliance.
From her roots in the WA Wheatbelt to her leadership in agricultural innovation, Jo brings a multidisciplinary approach to tackling the big issues facing our ag sector - from drought resilience and climate adaptation to sustainable intensification and modernising ag extension.
With a career spanning research, industry, education, and digital technology, she is a passionate advocate for collaboration, on-ground impact, and making research more accessible to WA’s farmers.
Become a Hub partner
The SW WA Hub partners with over 50 organisations across the agricultural supply chain to drive drought resilience and agricultural innovation. As a partner, you can access collaborative opportunities, contribute to key extension activities, and promote your work through the Hub's networks.
Interested in becoming a Hub partner? Submit an Expression of Interest or contact us at swwadroughthub@gga.org.au for more information.
Upcoming Hub Events
Last chance to register for our Extension and Adoption training program
If you're looking to sharpen your extension skills, register today for our upcoming Extension and Adoption training program! Registrations for the face-to-face modules close this Friday.
This practical, five-part professional development series is designed to strengthen agricultural extension skills across Western Australia.
The program offers around 18 hours of training delivered by experienced facilitators from the SW WA Hub. The content is suitable for both experienced professionals looking to elevate their approach, and newcomers wanting to build confidence in extension delivery.
Dates and topics
- Thursday 8 May (in person): Defining and developing priorities for investment for your group or business [Registrations close Friday 2 May]
- Friday 9 May (in person): Extension planning framework [Registrations close Friday 2 May]
- Thursday 15 May (online): Extension event planning
- Wednesday 21 May (online): Introduction to Monitoring and Evaluation
- Wednesday 28 May (online): Facilitation Training
Participation is flexible: register for some or all dates.
Price
Hub Consortium Partners and GGA network members have access to subsidised tickets: $40+GST per online session | $75+GST per in-person session (plus ticketing fee).
All other industry delegates: $80+GST per online session | $160+GST per in-person session (plus ticketing fee).
Dry Season Resources
Dry Season Resources podcast
Find the latest episodes of the SW WA Hub's Dry Season Resources podcast below. Be sure to subscribe on your favourite podcast platform to never miss an episode.
Virtual fencing and drone monitoring: enhancing rangeland management through AgTech
Megan Willis (South Australian Research and Development Institute) shares her work using virtual fencing for real-time herd monitoring and improved mustering, while Richard Marver (Contour Environmental and Agricultural Consulting) discusses the role of drones in collecting landscape-scale data to support grazing decisions and pasture health.
Managing back-to-back dry seasons in mixed farming
In this episode we are joined by a dynamic farming duo, Danielle Lannin England and Jonathan England, from AgInnovate. With a wealth of experience on-farm and in the wider agricultural industry, they share their advice after experiencing multiple dry seasons on their mixed sheep-grain farm in South Australia.
Season 2025: information for WA farmers
Did you know? The Season 2025 webpage of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) contains seasonally relevant information and management options in the broadacre and south-west agricultural areas along with the Southern Rangelands of Western Australia.
Latest updates and advice
- Plan to ensure there is enough quality water available for livestock over autumn until break season and formulate contingency plans. See Livestock management and Water sections for information to assist decision-making, particularly for dry seasonal conditions.
- Fire season continues and planning allows you to be prepared for an emergency. Visit the Department of Fire and Emergency Services’- Prepare Warnings & Incidents, Recovery for resources on preparing for a fire, Animal welfare during bushfires for instructions during a bushfire or Farm recovery after fire if your property has been affected by fire.
- The rainfall outlook for April to June 2025 indicates normal range of seasonal rainfall over southern WA. The pattern of above normal temperatures continues through autumn, with chances of unusually high daytime temperatures being elevated in most western parts of WA. See the Bureau’s seasonal outlook video for details and check monthly updates to the Seasonal Climate Outlook.
- Funding and support services information and contacts are available to assist people in rural WA areas.
For more advice on seasonal management, visit the DPIRD website.
Hub Projects in Focus
A hidden advantage beneath the surface
Wheat growers across Western Australia are no strangers to the challenges of farming in acidic soils, which can limit plant access to water and nutrients. PhD candidate Huyen Pham, from The University of Western Australia, is studying a natural root trait known as rhizosheath – the soil layer that sticks to plant roots, helping wheat access water and nutrients more efficiently, especially under dry conditions.
By studying wheat lines bred from Australian and Brazilian parent plants, Huyen is investigating how larger rhizosheaths improve crop resilience. Experiments using field soil and controlled lab setups show that wheat lines with larger rhizosheaths develop stronger roots, grow better, and yield more grain in acidic soils.
This research will help wheat breeders and ulitimately farmers choose wheat varieties that perform well in WA’s challenging conditions, improving productivity and drought resilience.
Huyen’s research is supported by a SW WA Hub bursary, which is helping fund extension activities to ensure her findings are shared with industry and can be applied on-farm. Huyen’s PhD supervisors are Hackett Professor Kadambot Siddique, Adjunct Prof. Jairo Palta, Dr Jiayin Pang and Dr Sasha Jenkins.
Shaping sustainable landscapes through Aboriginal perspectives
The Natural Capital Production Landscapes project team hosted a cultural workshop on 20 March 2025, with a special focus on Ballardong Country. The event centred Aboriginal perspectives in natural capital conversations, highlighting the important role of culture in shaping sustainable land management practices.
The workshop brought together a diverse group of stakeholders from Aboriginal organisations, including Grower Group Alliance member Noongar Land Enterprise, academia, government, finance, and industry. Guest speakers – including Oral and John McGuire, Dr Richard Walley OAM, Rick Shaw, Dr Richard George, Neil Canby, and project lead Thomas Picton-Warlow – shared valuable insights on Aboriginal stewardship, cultural governance, and sustainable land use.
A strong call to action emerged: the need to develop tangible, profitable pilot projects that demonstrate how Aboriginal-led cultural governance and integrated land practices, such as agrivoltaics and ecological restoration, can deliver measurable outcomes, attract investment, and heal Country.
This project is supported by the SW WA Hub through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.
Drought Hub Team Out and About
Pastoral Business Toolbox heads to the Nullarbor
The Goldfields Nullarbor Rangelands Biosecurity Association (GNRBA) hosted its second Pastoral Business Toolbox workshop in April at Kanandah Station, deep in WA’s Nullarbor region. This followed the success of the first workshop, held last year at Morapoi Station in the Goldfields.
Funded by the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) through the Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought – Small Network Grants (an initiative of the Future Drought Fund), the project aims to build the resilience of WA’s pastoral industry. Specifically designed for the Southern Rangelands, the workshops equip pastoralists with practical tools and resources across three key areas: production, business, and mental health. The ultimate goal? To give pastoralists the confidence and knowledge to make informed decisions – both in good seasons and in times of drought.
At Kanandah Station, Hub Knowledge Brokers Tanya Kilminster and Mary-Anne Glanzlowe joined around 25 attendees, including pastoralists, contractors, presenters and the GNRBA team.
Soil Health Update
Tell us what you need to know about soil and plant nutrition
By Bridget Watkins, Regional Soil Coordinator
To support continued learning for the grains industry in soil and plant nutrition, and guide the development of new ‘free to access’ learning modules, SoilsWest are asking farmers, on-farm employees and industry representatives to complete a simple 2-minute multiple choice survey to help ensure the content meets your needs!
SoilsWest at Murdoch University, supported by the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), and with links developed through the SW WA Regional Soil Coordinator, will provide access to core knowledge and build skills required to help decision making on farm – aiming to increase the understanding of changes associated with soil management practices and drive adoption of better practices.
Register your interest in the free online learning course here.
The Regional Soil Coordinator project provides opportunities for researchers, primary producers and community groups to collaborate and share knowledge related to soil health and management. This project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program under the Natural Heritage Trust. The project is led by the SW WA Hub, partnering with SoilsWest at Murdoch University.
Relevant News, Events and Resources
Apply for a Drought Resilience Scholarship with Nuffield Australia
The Future Drought Fund is investing in five Nuffield scholarships that are specifically available to study drought resilience and support innovation. These scholarships will support applicants to build drought resilience expertise, adapt innovative technology and practices from overseas and share these learnings to advance Australian agriculture. Applications close 16 May. Find out more.
FRRR grants help to strengthen rural communities
The Foundation For Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) is offering grants to support communities to activate and strengthen local climate solutions through its Strengthening Rural Communities program.
- The Small & Vital stream gives small rural, regional and remote communities across Australia the opportunity to access funds that can benefit and help secure their future success. Small grants up to $10,000 and targeted larger leverage grants up to $50,000 are available. Applications close 24 June.
- The Prepare & Recover stream supports communities to implement initiatives that prevent and prepare for future climate related impacts, or recover from previous disasters. Grants up to $25,000 are available. Applications close 24 June.
Listen to "Voices of the Gascoyne"
"Voices of the Gascoyne" is a podcast series exploring the remarkable stories of pastoralists from the Gascoyne region.
These men and women faced enormous challenges—navigating communication, transport, and electricity in remote landscapes, surviving natural disasters (including fires, floods and droughts), market collapses, and shifting government policies.
Their stories provide invaluable insights drawn from experience, resilience, and perseverance.
This project, led by Gascoyne Catchments Group Inc, was supported by FRRR through funding from the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund. Take a listen.
Locally Relevant News from the Future Drought Fund
Find out about the Future Drought Fund
The Future Drought Fund (FDF) provides secure, continuous funding for drought resilience initiatives and will help Australian farmers and communities prepare for the impacts of drought.
