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Welcome to Partners in Grain WA's
final In The Loop for 2013.
As you will see, there's plenty coming up in the next few months.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Workshops Update
HR & Office Efficiencies Workshops planned for Feb: It's going to be a busy start to 2014 for PinG WA with 10 workshops set for February. With a maximum capacity of 20 participants, some of these workshops are nearly full already so see the details below and register now to avoid missing out.
Technology Workshops are being planned for March: Our "Technology, Tablets & Tips" workshop has been developed and I am in the middle of setting dates and locations for delivery of at least 6 workshops in March. Workshops will be set where we can achieve a minimum of 10 farm businesses attending and good internet coverage is available. Please Request a Workshop if you are interested.
IR Workshop has been developed: Our workshop focusing on Employment Obligations for farm businesses is ready and we are expecting to begin delivery mid year. It is recommended that growers participate in the HR workshop prior to registering for the IR workshop.
Each PinG WA workshop requires a minimum of 10 farm businesses to attend, and a maximum of 20 participants.
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What does each workshop cover?
PinG offers four workshops. Each workshop has been funded by GRDC to be developed nationally and specifically for farm businesses.
Farm Office Efficiencies – More Organisation. Less Office Time.
Technology, Tablets & Tips – Managing your business on the go
Being a Better Boss – Part 1: Managing People (HR)
Being a Better Boss – Part 2: Legal Obligations (IR)
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Being a Better Boss: Managing People (HR) - UPCOMING DATES
This is a brand new workshop, developed specifically for farm businesses.
WA growers are the first in the country to have this opportunity.
Registrations are now open for the following:
Yuna - Monday 10 February - NEARLY FULL
in conjunction with YFIG & NEFF
Mingenew - Tuesday 11 February
Sponsored by 
in conjunction with MIG & NEFF
Dandaragan - Wednesday 12 February
in conjunction with West Midlands Group
Dumbleyung - Tuesday 25 February
Kojonup - Wednesday 26 February
in conjunction with Southern DIRT
Borden - Thursday 27 February - NEARLY FULL
in conjunction with North Stirlings Pallinup Natural Resources
The workshop runs from 8.45am – 3pm.
Min 10 farm businesses. Maximum 20 participants.
$165 (inc GST) for the first person from a business.
$110 (inc GST) for any other members of the same business.
All members of the business who are involved with managing staff are encouraged to attend.
A workshop manual and catering are included in your registration.
Local venue details to be confirmed closer to the date.
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Farm Office Efficiencies -
UPCOMING DATES
Following on from the extremely positive reviews from this year's workshops,
registrations are now open for the following:
Lake Grace - Tuesday 18 February
in conjunction with LIFT
Ravensthorpe - Wednesday 19 February
in conjunction with RAIN
Jerramungup - Thursday 20 February
in conjunction with Fitzgerald Biosphere Group
Mt Barker - Friday 21 February
in conjunction with Stirlings to Coast Farmers
The workshop runs 8.45am – 3pm.
Min 10 farm businesses. Maximum 20 participants.
$165 (inc GST) for the first person from a business.
$110 (inc GST) for any other members of the same business.
A workshop manual and catering are included in your registration.
Local venue details to be confirmed closer to the date.
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Express your Interest in a Workshop
If your local area is not represented in the workshops mentioned above, but you are interested in participating in a workshop, Request a Workshop, so that we can try and bring a workshop closer to you.
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GrainGrowers join PinG WA as a Gold Sponsor
With the common goal of strengthening and supporting the grains industry, and the individual farm businesses that underpin it, I am pleased to announce that as of 2014 GrainGrowers will be a Gold Sponsor of PinG WA.
Represented in WA by Senior Field Officer, Ray Morgan, GrainGrowers is Australia’s only national, independent, member-based, financially sustainable, technically resourced, grain producer organisation.
GrainGrowers work to make a more efficient, sustainable and profitable grains industry for all Australian grain producers by:
- Having a strong policies and submissions process which is underpinned by our National Policy Group
- Running education courses and events which help our people to thrive
- Developing and distributing a wide range of products and services which directly benefit the industry
GrainGrowers have a particular interest in PinG's "Technology, Tablets & Tips" workshop in which they will be giving a brief presentation of their online crop management tool, ProductionWise.
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Thank you to State Reference Group member Judi Forsyth
Since 2011, Kellerberrin local, Judi Forsyth has been a member of our WA State Reference Group.
With her background of farming for 30 years and currently working full time at C Y O'Connor Institute in Merredin, Judi joined PinG for the opportunity to promote grains and farming to the wider community, and for the training and business management opportunities offered.
Judi's industry experience and commitment to rural communities has been much appreciated on the State Reference Group, particularly as her involvement has assisted in the planning and development of PinG's four new workshops. Judi also assisted in bringing the Farm Office Efficiencies workshop to Kellerberrin in September this year.
As Judi's role with C Y O'Connor Institute has changed, she's no longer able to commit as a Reference Group Member. Thank you Judi for contributing to PinG, and for helping us to bring opportunities to WA grain growers and rural communities. We wish you the best of luck for the future.
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Seeking a State Reference Group Member
Do you live in the central or eastern wheatbelt?
Are you involved in the agricultural industry?
Would you like to help bring opportunities to your area?
Judi Forsyth is moving on from the PinG State Reference Group and there is an opportunity for a new member to come on board. As Judi was based in Kellerberrin, we would like to involve someone from the central or eastern wheatbelt.
The State Reference Group is planning their face-to-face meeting for early February, so it's a great time to hit the ground running, get involved and meet everyone else in the PinG WA Group.
If you would like to be involved in PinG please either contact WA Coordinator, Erin Green on 0429 108 936 to discuss it further, or download the Expression of Interest to find out more about the role and register your interest.
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National PinG
In August this year State Reference Group Members Nicole Batten, Julie Ramm and myself travelled to Horsham, Victoria for PinG's Annual National face-to-face meeting.
It was a busy, cold and eye-opening 2 and a half days as we met new faces, caught up on what the other states were doing, planned for the future of PinG and toured a few Horsham sites including Longerenong College and the Grains Innovation Park.
As an organisation that primarily operates via phone and email, it was great to spend time together and get a better understanding of PinG on a national level. Each state is so different in the way it operates, and the environment in which it operates, but having a national organisation brings opportunities that would otherwise be difficult to access.
Thanks to Julie and Nicole for taking the time to represent WA.
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WA Chair Nicole Batten, WA Coordinator Erin Green and Reference Group Member Julie Ramm in Horsham, Victoria.
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5 Minute Survey for Grower Groups
Over the past couple of months PinG WA has been surveying the demand for Partners in Grain workshops in WA.
PinG are trying to survey as many WA Grower Groups as possible (one representative from the group, not all growers) to enable us to measure demand, plan workshop delivery, and seek potential funding partners to help us meet demand.
Thank you to the 18 grower groups who have taken the time to complete the survey. The results have been extremely useful for identifying locations to hold workshops, grower groups to work with and have also been used to gain support of PinG in WA and nationally.
If you are a representative of a grower group, and your group has not yet completed the survey, but would like to work with PinG to bring workshops to members, please take 5 minutes to complete the survey now.
The survey will close at the end of this month.
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How has the Office Efficiencies workshop helped you?
2013 has seen the delivery of five Farm Office Efficiencies in Binnu, Moora, Williams, Katanning and Kellerberrin, to more than 70 participants.
Feedback from the workshops was extremely positive in terms of both the content and Jeanette Buegge's delivery.
Most participants left the workshop enthused and full of ideas on how they were going to implement what they learnt. Emptying filing cabinets, trialling a paperless system, regulating office time, improving communication with business partners, setting up a kids zone and redesigning the office layout - there were plenty of grand plans (from me included).
How has the workshop helped you and what office tips would you now recommend to others?
If you were a participant at one of these workshops I'd love to hear about changes you've implemented since attending and if they've affected your efficiency in the office. Please email me and let me know your recommendations to others.
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Participants (and presenter Jean Buegge) at the Farm Office Efficiencies Workshop in Katanning in September.
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Other Snippets From Outside of PinG
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Muresk re-opens. Enrol Now.
Enrollments are now open for a three year Agribusiness Degree being delivered at Muresk next year.
Charles Sturt University (CSU) and C.Y. O’Connor Institute are working in partnership for the delivery of CSU’s Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management at Muresk Institute commencing February 2014.
The Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management is being supported by industries looking to employ graduates of the course, with major banks providing graduate program opportunities.
Students who complete the Certificate IV in Agribusiness through C.Y. O’Connor Institute will be guaranteed entry into this program and graduates with other qualifications are encouraged to apply.
For more information check out the website or contact Daisy Bulloch at C.Y. O’Connor Institute on (08) 9622 6789 or 0427 440 371.
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Australian Grain Farm Leaders Program 2014
In 2013 GrainGrowers ran the Australian Grain Farm Leaders Program for the first time and they are now recruiting for the 2014 program.
The course is open to grain farmers aged between 18 and 40, and the young farmers who did this year's course reported they underwent immense personal and professional development.
Applications close December 20.
If you have any questions, please contact GrainGrowers on freecall 1800 620 519 or find out more from the GrainGrowers website.
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$5000 Agsafe Study Grant
Agsafe is offering 2 education bursaries to anyone studying or looking to study agriculture related courses next year.
Agsafe and its stewardship programs, drumMUSTER and Chem Clear will offer $2500 to two people looking to further their careers in agronomy, agribusiness, farming, quality management, best practice and financial management or other related agriculture fields.
The bursaries are open to everyone. The money can go towards either vocational or tertiary studies.
Applications close Friday, December 20. To enter the bursary or find out more visit the Agsafe website.
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We welcome your FEEDBACK
If you have any comments or suggestions that could help PinG WA improve In the Loop or the opportunities we provide please don't hesitate to get in touch.
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WA State Reference Group
Back Row L-R: Erin Green (Coordinator), Julie Ramm, Judy Forsyth (retired), Bronwyn Fox
Front Row L-R: Nicole Batten (Chair), Debrah Clarke, Alison Cooke, Natalie Hogg (holding George Fox)
Absent: Hayley Wandel
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