ABOUT
About the Hub
The SA Drought Hub is one of eight Hubs established across the nation through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.
Led by Adelaide University in partnership with the Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia (PIRSA), the hub is responsible for driving extension of existing knowledge and practices to build drought resilience and preparedness in primary production systems.
The Hub has an Advisory Board to advise the Director on strategic directions and meeting the needs of local agricultural industries. The Advisory Board has an independent chair and includes representation from the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), the University of Adelaide, Ag Excellence Alliance, key agriculture commodity representative groups, Local Government Association, Landscape SA and appropriate State Government Agencies.
The SA Drought Hub supports all farming sectors including grain, livestock, dairy, pastoral/grazing, wine, horticulture and emerging industries in the low, pastoral, medium and high rainfall zones. The SA Drought Hub headquarters are located at Roseworthy with our team, and our regional engagement approach, covering all areas of South Australia.
SA Drought Hub – Node Co-Design Workshops Report
The South Australian Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub conducted a series of regional co-design workshops in August, September, and October 2021, in order to identify each region’s priorities for strengthening their drought preparedness and resilience.
The hybrid in-person and online Node workshops at Wudinna, Port Augusta, Loxton, Orroroo, Roseworthy, Naracoorte, and Coober Pedy attracted 279 participants and generated a total of 991 ideas.
This PDF report provides a comprehensive summary of the activities, objectives, and contributions.
Our Partners
The Hub consists of a comprehensive and dynamic network of 59 industry partners, including: grower groups; the three South Australian-based universities; government agencies; Indigenous partners; agribusinesses; research, development and extension partners; and various industry organisations.
The partners are injecting into the Hub $11.47 million of cash and in-kind support – in addition to the initial $8 million of funding over four years from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.
Our footprint
The SA Drought Hub supports all farming sectors including grain, livestock, dairy, pastoral/grazing, wine, horticulture and emerging industries in the low, pastoral, medium and high rainfall zones. The SA Drought Hub headquarters are located at Roseworthy, however our team, and our regional engagement approach, covers all areas of South Australia.
SA HUB REGIONS
- Adelaide Plains, Mid-North & Yorke
- Murraylands, Riverland & Mallee
- Upper North & Flinders
- Far North & Pastoral
- Eyre Peninsula
- Limestone Coast, Kangaroo Island, Hills and Fleurieu
The Team
The leadership team is made up of people who are passionate about the future viability and vibrancy of the State’s farmers and regional communities. They will be supporting the regions and working with the Hub’s partners to ensure the SA Drought Hub’s activities have enduring impact.
Stephen Lee
Director
Dr Stephen Lee has a wealth of expertise and experience in developing collaborative research and development programs that drive productivity and profitability within the livestock industry, and is eager to extend that experience to agriculture more broadly. Stephen was previously Partnerships Manager for the University of Adelaide’s Davies Livestock Research Centre.
E stephen.lee@adelaide.edu.au
M 0421 570 630
Peter Hayman
Deputy Director
Peter Hayman has 30+ years of experience in science communication, the science-policy interface, project management and applied research.
Peter currently works as the Principal Scientist, Climate Applications, with the South Australian Research and Development Institute, and will be supporting the Hub to improve the links between climate information to decision making.
E peter.hayman@sa.gov.au
M 0401 996 448
Tony Randall
Knowledge Broker
Tony Randall has more than 20 years of experience working within agricultural and natural resources management industries in South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Tony has worked extensively in the not-for-profit sector as both a project officer and in leadership and management roles.
E tony@agex.org.au
M 0402 245 747
Rachel May
Farming Systems Specialist – Adoption Officer
Rachel May has extensive experience working in agriculture and landcare across Eyre Peninsula and the Murray Darling Region of South Australia. Rachel has worked closely with many landcare and farming groups in project management, research and extension roles.
E rachel@agex.org.au
M 0457 929 998
Penny Schulz
Livestock Technical Specialist- Adoption Officer
Dr Penny Schulz is an expert in AgTech adoption, livestock genetics and sustainable farming systems. She has worked as a lecturer and livestock consultant, delivering projects to industry and holding a range of board and advisory roles. Penny also runs a sheep and cattle operation in the Limestone Coast region with her husband Jason.
E penny.schulz@adelaide.edu.au
M 0417 853 094
Sean Miller
Innovation Broker
Dr Sean Miller works closely with farmers, farming systems groups, advisors and researchers to harness innovation for drought and climate resilience. Sean was previously a University of Adelaide Research Fellow for the Advanced Livestock Measurement Technologies project (ALMtech), helping Australian meat supply chains adopt objective carcass measurement.
E sean.miller@adelaide.edu.au
M 0407 363 046
Lucy Porter
Regional Soils Coordinator
Lucy Porter will be working with regional soil service providers to develop a plan that identifies regional soil issues, activities and capabilities, barriers to adoption, and opportunities to collaborate to deliver more integrated and targeted soils services to farmers and regional farming communities.
E lucy.porter@adelaide.edu.au
M 0488 551 731
Demi Taylor
Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, Learning & Adoption Officer
Demi Taylor previously worked in the not-for-profit agricultural sector in a project management, extension and communications capacity. She holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science and Associate Degree in Communications, and has experience in farming systems across SA, VIC and NSW.
M 0436 009 906
Karen Hollamby
Karen Hollamby comes to the SA Drought Hub with over 20 years working experience in economic and community development, particularly in primary industry sectors. Karen’s wealth of expertise and experience brings strengths in developing relationships and networks, strategic and business planning and collaborative program development. Supporting and giving back to our regions is the driver for Karen and she is looking forward to delivering great outcomes for the Murraylands and Riverland.
E karen.hollamby@sa.gov.au
M 0432 806 970
Deborah Francis
Events Coordinator
With nearly 30 years of farming experience on the EP, and a long-standing connection to agriculture, Deborah has a strong appreciation for the realities of life on the land and the strength of regional communities. Her career has included roles in agricultural business, community engagement and working alongside stakeholders across the agricultural sector.
Passionate about supporting rural and regional South Australia, Deborah values the opportunity to bring people together, share knowledge and foster connections.
E Deborah.Francis@sa.gov.au
M 0428 170 201
This program received funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund
About the Future Drought Fund
The $5 billion Future Drought Fund provides secure, continuous funding for drought resilience initiatives. It will help Australian farms and communities prepare for the impacts of drought.
The FDF is part of the government’s Drought Response, Resilience and Preparedness Plan, supporting Australian farmers and communities to be sustainable and productive.
About the FDF Better Practices Program
The FDF Better Practices Program is one of the programs established through the Future Drought Fund to support Australian farmers and communities to prepare for and become more resilient to the effects of future drought.
Future Drought Fund
Better climate information
Better planning
Better practices
Better prepared communities
The Drought Resilience Research and Adoption Program has been allocated funding of $117.3 million to 2023-24.
The objective of this program is to invest into collaborative research, development, extension, adoption and commercialisation (RDEA&C) activities. These activities will help primary producers and rural and regional communities to become more prepared for, and resilient to, future droughts.
The program has the following interconnected elements: innovation hubs, innovation grants, research and adoption investment plan, and a science to practice forum.
Adoption and Innovation Hubs
Eight Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs in regional Australia.
Hubs will be located in regions within major climatic and agricultural zones across Australia.
Hubs will facilitate transformational change through co-design of RDEA&C activities.
Opportunity for farmers, researchers, local entrepreneurs, Indigenous groups, NRM practitioners, and industry and community groups to work together.
Collaboration will enable user-centred innovation, research and adoption where it is needed.
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Fill in the form or contact us at sadroughthub@adelaide.edu.au.