GRDC Grower Network - Coordination and administration services for the Northern Region

Description:

The National Grower Network (NGN) program is designed to capture and respond promptly to grain grower issues and opportunities, ensure GRDC is investing in locally relevant research, and help drive adoption of R&D outputs. In doing so, the NGN also educates stakeholders of GRDC’s role and portfolio of investments and increases visibility of GRDC. The NGN helps to capture ideas, issues, constraints and opportunities for RD&E to enhance grower profitability. To achieve this, the team, with support from a service provider engage with stakeholders through forums that are open to all growers, advisers, researchers and industry parties.

GRDC is looking to engage with a service provider to coordinate and administer to continue to deliver the NGN program. Key activities will include organisation, promotion and coordination of a series of NGN forums throughout the Northern Region. This will include administration tasks associated with the events, including minute taking, evaluation and registration of attendees. Close collaboration with the Grower and Stakeholder Engagement team will ensure these activities are delivered professionally across the Northern Region.

Outcome:

By 30 June 2028, at least 500 grain industry stakeholders (averaging at least 10 growers and/or advisers per event) have participated in the identification and prioritisation of local constraints and opportunities for potential investment via NGN forums.

Outputs

Output 1.

Title: Output 1 Coordination and delivery of National Grower Network forums.

Description:

By 30 June 2026 (recurring annually), organise, promote, coordinate and administrate a series of a minimum of 34, but up to 50 GRDC National Grower Network forums, with Northern, minimum 12, up to 16, Southern minimum 10, up to 16 & Western minimum 12, up to 16.

Each NGN forum will involve the following key components:

• Facilitation by a GRDC Grower Relations Manager and will include a presentation on GRDC investments relevant to the local area of delivery.

• The NGN forum will provide an engagement opportunity to collect and prioritise opportunities and constraints of local importance to growers, advisers, industry and research representatives.

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• Along with GRDC staff, group discussions will be support staff to capture the discussions and ensure effective time management is maintained to achieve the desired outcomes.

• At each NGN event a research presentation, field walk, or similar extension activity will be conducted to facilitate peer to peer learning and group discussions to ground truth locally-relevant research outcomes.

• • After each event a report will be submitted to GRDC containing a list of opportunities and constraints raised including detailed notes on the group discussions for each issue, priorities, evaluation of the forum and registration information . All public reporting functions for this project will be managed through the GRDC website.

• At the end of each year, GRDC will work with providers to explore more efficient ways to engage growers and stakeholders.

For each event the facilitator is responsible for carrying out the following tasks in consultation with GRDC:

i. Event logistics (booking venues, catering, travel/accommodation for speakers, AV needs)

ii. Agenda creation

iii. Event promotion and must include GRDC channels, for example, websites, event pages, electronic direct mail, social media, media releases) and by local promotion organised by the service provider

iv. Registrations and attendee contact details

v. Set u