Land monitor plays important role in salinity battle

As Machiavelli observed in the 16th century, Knowledge is power, and few have disputed this since. So it is not surprising that in the battle against salinity, considerable resources are being used to understand the extent of the problem and its spread. Brian Beetson reports on one of the initiatives undertaken to expand these resources - the Land Monitor project

Feed for autumn lambing ewes

Department of Agriculture feeding trials with grazing sheep have consistently shown that the level of supplementation should be set for survival and little more, because beyond that the additional costs of supplementary feeding usually outstrip the benefits from extra production. Even sheep in the greatest need - autumn lambing ewes in late pregnancy and the early part of lactation before and during the break of season - can be fed less than was thought necessary to achieve acceptable production

Look after the tail enders

IN Department of Agriculture drought feeding trials last summer, shy feeders lost weight and died while the bigger sheep grew fat. When drafted off and fed separately the shy feeders ate their share and survived the summer

A survey of shearing times

When do farmers in W.A. shear their sheep, and why do they selest the times they do? A Department of Agriculture survey attempted to answer these questions, which have important implications for the wool industry

Objective measurement and the stud breeder

The movement towards sale of wool by certificate and sample highlights the significance of objective measurement in the Merino stud breeders\u27 selection of his top rams. This article suggests how stud breeders should use the Department of Agriculture\u27s Flock Testing Service to gain genetic progress in wool producing ability without loss of visual buyer appeal. Studs\u27 use of the service will be evaluated in 1974

Building digital entrepreneurial platform through local community activity and digital skills in aboriginal Australia

© 2018 Pradhan, Beetson & Kutay. This research is situated in the Ngemba community which includes the township known as Brewarrina. It is located approximately 900 kms north west of Sydney and classified ‘Very Remote Australia’. Brewarrina’s recorded Aboriginal population in 2016 was 71.09% contrasted with the total Indigenous Australian population being 2.8%. The Australian Government have identified Brewarrina in the ‘Digital Divide’ category. Closing the gap on socio-economic disadvantage and the digital divide is directly related to economic development and national priorities include Aboriginal peoples’ employment as an identified target under the banner of the 'Close the Gap' initiative. The Australian government stated the national broadband network (NBN) initiative and ICTs would assist in achieving such priorities. Despite such strategies and initiatives, direct action has yet to be realised. This raises opportunities for targeted networking interactions within and beyond community, offering innovative approaches to countering these priorities. This research will implement and verify an innovative model that facilitates community digital entrepreneurship. The model proposes several practical applications, including community members' ability to promote community entrepreneurship and community members’ skills development

Enhancing a Permanent Sample Plot System in Natural Forests

Permanent sample plots (PSPs) provide the basis for growth models and thus determine the quality of inferences made from decision support systems for forest management. Existing plots may have been adequate in the past, but changing needs and possibilities may have made data suboptimal for present demands. Funds for the establishment of additional plots are generally limited, so supplementary sampling should be based on an optimal sampling strategy employing prior information. This case study in south-east Queensland used topoclimatic strata and existing inventory data to identify where additional PSPs should be established, so as to increase the geographical and silvicultural range of the growth data collected. Some existing PSPs in areas considered over-sampled may be abandoned

Reproductive wastage among Merino ewe flocks. 2. Non-clover areas

This research sought to define the reasons for low fertility among Merino ewes in Western Australia. This first article looks at wastage in Non-Clover area

An Aboriginal Adult Literacy Campaign Pilot Study in Australia using Yes I Can

In 2012, the remote Aboriginal community of Wilcannia in western NSW hosted the first Australian pilot of a Cuban mass adult literacy campaign model known as Yes I Can. The aim was to investigate the appropriateness of this model in Aboriginal Australia. Building on an intensive community development process of ‘socialisation and mobilisation’, sixteen community members with very low literacy graduated from the basic literacy course, with the majority continuing on into post-literacy activities, further training and/or employment. The pilot was initiated by the National Aboriginal Adult Literacy Campaign Steering Committee (NAALCSC) consisting of Aboriginal leaders from the education and health sectors, and managed by the University of New England (UNE), working in partnership with the Wilcannia Local Aboriginal Land Council as the local lead agency. The pilot was supported by a Cuban academic who came to Australia for this purpose, and included a Participatory Action Research (PAR) evaluation led by the UNE Project Manager. In this paper, members of the project team and the NAALCSC describe the pilot and reflect on its outcomes

"You can't work with my people if you don't know how to" : enhancing transfer of care from hospital to primary care for Aboriginal Australians with chronic disease

Indigenous Australians experience significantly poorer health compared to other Australians, with chronic disease contributing to two-thirds of the health gap. We report on an evaluation of an innovative model that leverages mainstream and Aboriginal health resources to enable safe, supported transfer of care for Aboriginal adults with chronic conditions leaving hospital. The multisite evaluation was Aboriginal-led and underpinned by the principles of self-determination and equity and Indigenous research protocols. The qualitative study documented processes and captured service user and provider experiences. We found benefits for patients and their families, the hospital and the health system. The new model enhanced the patient journey and trust in the health service and was a source of staff satisfaction. Challenges included staff availability, patient identification and complexity and the broader issue of cultural safety. Critical success factors included strong governance with joint cultural and clinical leadership and enduring relationships and partnerships at the service delivery, organisation and system levels. A holistic model of care, bringing together cultural and clinical expertise and partnering with Indigenous community organisations, can enhance care coordination and safety across the hospital–community interface. It is important to consider context as well as specific program elements in design, implementation and evaluation