Page 10 - DAF 254 Peer 2 Peer Case Studies

IN THE NEWS
Peers share knowledge to improve Reef health
People learn from the experiences of their peers - that’s the theory behind the formation of a number of facilitated producer peer-to- peer groups across the Atherton Tablelands and Cape York funded by the Enhanced Extension Coordination (EEC) project.
Oliver McConnachie, who is the regional coordinator delivering the EEC project for Cape York through Cape York NRM, is behind the groundswell of groups which includes in the Wet Tropics: Tablelands Next-Gen Beef Group and Beef and Dairy Groups and Cape York: Lakeland Precision Agriculture and the Normanby and Endeavour Productivity Network.
Mr McConnachie said facilitated peer-to-peer learning is a long-term strategy to develop relationships, trust and respect and share the skills and experience individuals can bring to the group.
“Our goal to improve cooperation, coordination and collaboration among producers and their larger networks and for members to build capacity to improve
management of their farms though innovative learning approaches and the use of technologies to support on-farm learning. “This project has already been highly successful with four groups up and running and a number of producer-driven projects completed or in the pipeline.
Projects so far have included workshops on how to maintain or improve soil health and explaining the latest in humane technology in pig trapping.
We are also planning to install weather stations on a number of Lakeland Downs properties to provide farmers with improved data so they can better manage their water usage and fertiliser regime.
``The overarching goal of the EEC project is to improve the quality of water flowing into the Great Barrier Reef. By working with people, and supporting them to learn from each other, we can encourage more uptake of improved farm practices resulting in all the environmental benefits which spring from that. ‘’