Regional Knowledge Resource Kit:News archive
From Regional Knowledge Resource Kit
Apr - Jun 2008
Regional Knowledge Leaders training wraps up
30-May-2008
Next week the last of ten Regional Knowledge Leaders training workshops will be held in Perth. Once the Perth training has been completed, representatives from 38 of Australia's 56 regional NRM bodies will have been trained, as well as a number of representatives from Australia's Rural R&D Corporations and other similar NRM and R&D organisations that work with regional NRM bodies. Two earlier workshops also trained a range of people who work with regional NRM bodies at a State/Territory level, including Australian Government NRM Facilitators, State agency officers, and State regional NRM support organisations.
Participant feedback from the Regional Knowledge Leaders training workshops has been overwhelmingly positive, with the trained Leaders now ready to move forward on the development of a Regional Knowledge Strategy when their region or organisation is ready.
Hurry! Your last chance for Regional Knowledge Leaders training!
05-May-2008
Registrations will close soon for the last three Regional Knowledge Leaders training workshops which are:
- Townsville (Qld) on Wed 21 - Thu 22 May 2008.
- Launceston (Tas) on Mon 26 - Tue 27 May 2008.
- Perth (WA) on Wed 4 – Thu 5 Jun 2008.
The training is designed to enable regionally based people to facilitate Regional Knowledge Strategies using the resources in this Regional Knowledge Resource Kit. Now is your last chance to register - click here for registration information.
Improvements make RKRK navigation easier
04-Apr-2008
Finding what you need in the RKRK is now even easier following comprehensive navigation improvements, which include:
- A new Quick links box at the top of the RKRK Home Page makes accessing the key parts of the RKRK quicker and easier.
- A new "Developing a Regional Knowledge Strategy" page that features Quick links to all of the stages of the RKRK development process and the how-to guides.
- A new Resource library that puts in one alphabetically-indexed place all of the information and knowledge management reference materials that had previously been scattered around the RKRK.
Regional Knowledge Leaders training rolls out
04-Apr-2008
Next week sees the third Regional Knowledge Leaders training workshop as the training rolls out across Australia. Regional Knowledge Leaders training sessions are being conducted across Australia between March and the first week of June. The training is designed to enable regionally based people to facilitate Regional Knowledge Strategies using the resources in this Regional Knowledge Resource Kit.
Have you registered for the training in your State/Territory? Register now to avoid missing out - click here to find out more.
New decision advisory service now available
17-Mar-2008
This is a FREE service for regional NRM bodies to get help with their decision making.
To assist regions select from the vast array of decision making methods and tools available, the Land & Water Australia Knowledge for Regional NRM Program has engaged specialists to provide a free decision making advice service. This project is acting as a trial to determine if such a service is found useful by regions and delivers improved quality of decision making.
The trial service is available until June '08 or until funds run out, so if you have a decision but you aren't sure how best to make it, lodge your enquiry as soon as possible so you don't miss out on this free advice.
More information about the service and the service team can be found at www.lwa.gov.au/decisionadvice.
Please let to your colleagues know about this new service.
First Regional Knowledge Leaders training well received
14-Mar-2008
Participants have described the first Regional Knowledge Leaders training workshop, which was held in Brisbane on 6-7 March, as excellent. Regional Knowledge Leaders training sessions are being conducted across Australia between March and May. The training is designed to enable regionally based people to facilitate Regional Knowledge Strategies using the resources in this Regional Knowledge Resource Kit.
Have you registered for the training in your State/Territory? Register now to avoid missing out - click here to find out more.
The Brisbane Regional Knowledge leaders training workshop was organised through the Friends of the Regional Knowledge Resource Kit and was hosted with the assistance of the Queensland Regional NRM Groups Collective and the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Water (NRW).
Jan - Mar 2008
Where's your evidence for that decision?
29-Feb-2008
- Are you under pressure to demonstrate that best-available science is being used as evidence for investment decisions?
- Are staff members spending time finding and filtering information but have no good way to store and share it with colleagues?
- Is your office full of valuable decision making information but you don’t know where to find it?
If the answer is ‘yes’ to any of these questions then read the new 
Evidence Base software information sheet 
.
Evidence Base software is now available on the NRM Toolbar website. It has been specially developed for regional NRM bodies and other NRM groups to store and rediscover information that can be used as evidence for decision-making.
Register now for regional training!
29-Feb-2008
The Regional Knowledge Leaders training program is now available - register now to avoid missing out!
Click here to find out more.
Training rolls out across Australia
21-Feb-2008
The Friends of the Regional Knowledge Resource Kit is currently finalising Regional Knowledge Leaders training workshop dates and arrangements for New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and South Australia. Planning is also underway for Regional Knowledge Leaders training in Victoria.
Congratulations Trish!
21-Feb-2008
Congratulations to Trish Dames, who has been Regional NRM Facilitator with the Avon Catchments Council (WA) pilot region. Trish has accepted the position of Community Education Coordinator with the Australian Water Association and will commence in Sydney on 17 March. Many thanks Trish for your excellent knowledge management work, and very best wishes in your new position!
NSW/ACT training dates proposed
25-Jan-2008
The Friends of the Regional Knowledge Resource Kit is planning Regional Knowledge Leaders training dates for the NSW CMAs and ACT NRM region. To assist CMA staff to participate, three regionally-based workshops are proposed for Wollongong, West Wyalong and Tamworth in April-May. Before the training workshops proceed, endorsement will be sought from the NSW CMA Chairs and General Managers, and there will also be a workshop with NSW State agency NRM staff who are working with information and knowledge.
Planning for Regional Knowledge Leaders training in the other States and Territories is also being progressed by the Friends of the Regional Knowledge Resource Kit.
SA region explores Knowledge Strategy
24-Jan-2008
Knowledge for Regional NRM team members met this week with representatives from Kangaroo Island NRM in South Australia to discuss the potential for the region to develop a Regional Knowledge Strategy. The Knowledge for Regional NRM team had previously advanced planning for a Regional Knowledge Strategy pilot region in South Australia, however at the time the region was not able to participate due to commitments to the NRM planning process.
The discussions with Kangaroo Island NRM were very productive, and the region will now formally consider participation. Planning for Regional Knowledge Leaders training in South Australia is also being progressed by the Friends of the Regional Knowledge Resource Kit.
A little help from some friends
14-Jan-2008
The new Friends of the Regional Knowledge Resource Kit group will support and assist the Regional Knowledge Leaders to develop and implement Regional Knowledge Strategies across Australia.
To develop a Regional Knowledge Strategy, one or more staff from an NRM region first join the Regional Knowledge Leaders training program where they will learn how to facilitate the Strategy process and access help and resources. Expressions of interest for this training are now open. The five-stage Regional Knowledge Strategy process takes an NRM region from its current situation through to tangible information and knowledge interventions and projects and an ongoing process to make sure things happen.
Happy New Year!
07-Jan-2008
The Friends of the Regional Knowledge Resource Kit welcome you to 2008 and wish you the very best for the year ahead. We look forward to working with our partners across Australia to progress the implementation of Regional Knowledge Strategies.
Sep - Dec 2007
Seasons greetings!
20-Dec-2007
The Friends of the Regional Knowledge Resource Kit wish you a safe and happy festive season and the very best for 2008. We look forward to working with our partners across Australia to progress the implementation of Regional Knowledge Strategies in the new year.
Implementation moves forward
19-Dec-2007
The completion this month of five pilot Regional Knowledge Strategies and the National Core Team training on 11-13 December opens the way for wider regional training and engagement in the new year.
The National Core Team training has led to the establishment of the Friends of the Regional Knowledge Resource Kit. In 2008 the Friends of the RKRK will commence supporting and assisting Regional Knowledge Leaders to develop and implement Regional Knowledge Strategies across Australia.
To develop a Regional Knowledge Strategy, one or more staff from an NRM region first join the Regional Knowledge Leaders training program where they will learn how to facilitate the Strategy process and access help and resources. Expressions of interest for this training are now open. The five-stage Regional Knowledge Strategy process takes an NRM region from its current situation through to tangible information and knowledge interventions and projects and an ongoing process to make sure things happen.
Knowledge providers workshop outcomes now available
07-Dec-2007
Workshops in Brisbane on 5-6 November brought together representatives of regional NRM bodies, science and research providers, Indigenous knowledge providers and local knowledge providers. The aim of the workshops was to develop content for a new "How to work with knowledge providers" section of the RKRK.
The workshop outcomes are now available for download here.
Request for tender
07-Dec-2007
A request for tender has just been released entitled: Trial provision of an independent advisory service to assist regional natural resource management (NRM) bodies select decision making approaches. This is part of the work the Knowledge for Regional NRM Program is doing to support knowledge brokering within the NRM sector. Details are available at www.lwa.gov.au/funding and it closes on 18th January 2008.
Training to set up for National rollout
05-Dec-2007
The National Core Team has been established by seeking expressions of interest from State & Territory based Australian Government NRM Facilitators, State agency officers, and State regional NRM support organisations. In 2008 the National Core Team will support and assist Regional Knowledge Leaders to develop and implement Regional Knowledge Strategies across Australia. Next week the National Core Team will be trained in this role in 3-day workshop in Melbourne.
To develop a Regional Knowledge Strategy, one or more staff from an NRM region first join the Regional Knowledge Leaders training program where they will learn how to facilitate the Strategy process and access help and resources. Expressions of interest for this training are now open.
The five-stage Regional Knowledge Strategy process takes an NRM region from its current situation through to tangible information and knowledge interventions and projects and an ongoing process to make sure things happen. The process has been developed and refined through working with five pilot regions. The piloting phase is currently wrapping up.
Avon and Corangamite pilots move to implementation
05-Dec-2007
Stage 4 workshops were facilitated last week by Avon Catchments Council (WA) Regional Facilitator Trish Dames, and NRM Knowledge Facilitator Sonia Mahony is currently leading the Stage 4 workshops in Corangamite CMA (VIC). Trish and Sonia are thanked for their excellent work, which has contributed to the further refining of the resources in this kit in readiness for the wider rollout to more regions across Australia in 2008.
Both Corangamite and Avon now move to Stage 5 - implementation which includes regular reviews of progress to make sure that the Regional Knowledge Strategy delivers outcomes.
Corangamite anecdote circles completed
16-Nov-2007
Anecdote circles at Corangamite CMA have explored the experiences of staff and managers in finding, using and sharing information and knowledge. Anecdote circles are a narrative technique used widely in the business community, and they enable a rich and deep understanding of how a region manages its information and knowledge.
Anecdote circles are conducted in Stage 3 of the Regional Knowledge Strategy process. The circles are recorded, and then the anecdotes are extracted and all personal references removed, ready for use in Stage 4. There they are combined with the results of two other lines of enquiry, information mapping and surveys, in sensemaking and action design workshops.
Workshops explore working with knowledge providers
07-Nov-2007
Workshops in Brisbane on 5-6 November brought together representatives of regional NRM bodies, science and research providers, Indigenous knowledge providers and local knowledge providers. The aim of the workshops was to develop content for a new "How to work with knowledge providers" section of the RKRK in relation to:
- How regional NRM bodies can find research to close knowledge gaps.
- Identifying who are the knowledge providers to regions.
- How can regional NRM bodies best engage with these knowledge providers, including identifying any barriers to engagement.
- Identifying how to increase collaboration across regional bodies so they might jointly identify knowledge requirements and jointly fund knowledge providers to close these gaps.
Thanks to the enthusiastic input of the participants and the expert facilitation of Anecdote Pty Ltd, the workshop sessions were very productive. Not only was material relevant to the RKRK developed, but also ideas for future Knowledge for Regional NRM Program activities.
The workshop outcomes will be available in the RKRK shortly, followed by updates in regard to implementation of the outcomes.
Avon and Corangamite pilots underway
31-Oct-2007
Avon Catchments Council (WA) and Corangamite CMA (VIC) are the final two of five Regional Knowledge Strategy pilot regions, and Stage 1 workshops in these regions were successfully conducted in October 2007.
Cath Lyons (Senior Policy Officer, WA State NRM Office), Trish Dames (Regional NRM Facilitator, Avon) and Sonia Mahony (NRM Knowledge Facilitator) are thanked for their outstanding efforts in facilitating the Stage 1 workshops. Both regions are now conducting the Stage 2 online surveys.
The Regional Knowledge Strategy process has been developed and refined through working the five pilot regions. Pilots have been successfully completed with the NRM North (TAS), Central West CMA (NSW) and South West NRM (QLD) regional NRM bodies. The Avon Catchments Council (WA) and Corangamite CMA (VIC) pilots will be completed by December 2007.
South West NRM workshops complete
22-Oct-07
On 12 October South West NRM became the third pilot region to successfully complete the Regional Knowledge Strategy workshop series. South West NRM is the regional NRM body for South West Queensland.
South West NRM CEO Geoff Edwards reported that the region was happy to host the process and pleased with the outcomes. The develop of a Regional Knowledge Strategy complements the establishment of the South West Information Hub.
NRM Toolbar now live!
02-Oct-2007
Version 1.0 of the NRM Toolbar is now available at www.nrmtoolbar.net.au
The NRM Toolbar is a set of online tools and databases that make it easier for NRM professionals to find and share information.
Tools included as part of Version 1.0 are:
- NRM Toolbar interface that once downloaded to your internet browser, such as Internet Explorer, will allow you to easily navigate to different tools and databases of the NRM Toolbar website regardless of where you are on the internet.
- The NRM Search Engine searches only selected Australian NRM websites. Search results are therefore higher quality and more relevant when compared with the search results of generic search engines.
The NRM Toolbar website also has a number of specialised NRM databases, including lists of NRM professional bodies and e-networks, a regularly updated calendar of NRM Events, a comprehensive list of decision support tools and details of knowledge brokering services.
All NRM professionals can add content to these databases and recommend sources across which the NRM Search Engine should search.
Avon Catchments Council workshop schedule
04-Sep-2007
Workshops for the Avon Catchments Council pilot region will be held on 25 September 2007 (Stage 1) and from 27-30 November 2007 (Stages 3 and 4). In the Stage 3 and 4 workshops we'll be trialling the variation to the Anecdote Circle process that allows us to collect anecdotes directly from the workshop without audio recording or transcription.
