Advanced to In Practice: innovation in design of extension framework

The lecture style approach of the 2018 Dairy Australia Rearing Healthy Calves (DA RHC) program delivered sound content to participants, in a one size fits all purposes framework. In November 2020, an internal Dairy Australia project team updated the DA RHC extension program to provide a 'Fundamental' course supporting dairy farm employee's operational management of calf rearing, and an 'Advanced' course supporting decision makers in strategic management of calf rearing on Australian dairy farms. During a pilot of the DA RHC advanced course, participants focused on peer-to-peer discussion to remove roadblocks to practice change. As a result of this observation, the focus of the advanced course was switched from uptake of content to facilitation of participant driven pathways for practice change. The 'In Practice' focus appreciates the adoption of change requires time and space for reflection of how new learnings are being implemented to improve current farm practices.