About this Information and Knowledge Resource Kit
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Aims and history
Land & Water Australia Knowledge for Regional NRM Program
As a key NRM research investor, Land & Water Australia (LWA) has had a fundamental interest in ensuring that the outcomes of its investments inform on-ground natural resource management (NRM) activities, and that in turn the experiences of on-ground NRM practitioners inform research investment priorities. In 2006, Andrew Campbell, then Executive Director of LWA, published 
The Australian Natural Resource Management Knowledge System 
. This analysis concluded that, while there were many inspiring and innovative things happening in NRM research and on the ground, the NRM knowledge scene remained highly fragmented, with its many parts rarely in symphony. The paper identified areas of focus for improving the NRM knowledge system as a whole.
In order to facilitate the integrated delivery of NRM programs, the Australian Government worked with State and Territory governments to establish 56 regional NRM bodies and Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) covering the whole of Australia. Meeting the knowledge needs of these regional NRM bodies and CMAs is one of the biggest challenges faced in improving the NRM knowledge system. In conjunction with the preparation of The Australian Natural Resource Management Knowledge System , Andrew Campbell was instrumental in establishing the Knowledge for Regional NRM Program which commenced in February 2005. He was supported in this by Kate Andrews, then Manager Knowledge & Adoption at LWA. Funding support was provided by the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT).
In Phase 1 of the Knowledge for Regional NRM Program, which concluded in June 2006, Land & Water Australia worked with regional NRM bodies / CMAs, national information providers, NRM facilitators and NRM knowledge brokers to identify barriers to effective information and knowledge management. The report Improving the NRM knowledge system for regions presents the findings of these investigations and outlines three comprehensive packages of products and services to address the findings.
With further NHT funding, Phase 2 of the Knowledge for Regional NRM Program was carried out between July 2006 and June 2008 with rollover funds used for the period July 2008 to June 2009. In Phase 2, the services presented in the report Improving the NRM knowledge system for regions were further developed and evolved and then implemented.
The report Knowledge for Regional Natural Resource Management - Achievements and options presents the significant achievements of Phase 2 of the Knowledge for Regional NRM Program. The report also introduces options for maintaining and evolving the important products and services of the program into the future, and for maintaining momentum for the continued improvement of information and knowledge management in the NRM sector.
Package 1 - Better practice in knowledge management
The development and implementation of the Package 1 products and services was led by Bruce Boyes, assisted by Melanie Randall and Nerida Hart (Program Manager), and with support and input from other team members. As discussed in Improving the NRM knowledge system for regions , Package 1 was titled "Better practice in knowledge management" and consisted of:
- Knowledge Management Guidelines for the NRM Sector;
- Knowledge management training and support; and
- Better Knowledge Practice Awards.
The implementation planning for Package 1 revealed that the best approach to "Knowledge Management Guidelines for the NRM Sector" and "Knowledge management training and support" would be:
- A Information and Knowledge Strategy process developed collaboratively with specialist knowledge management consultants and a number of pilot regional NRM bodies and CMAs;
- The development of a comprehensive online information base documenting both the Information and Knowledge Strategy process and a comprehensive range of information and knowledge management resources useful to the NRM sector; and
- Training in the facilitation of the Information and Knowledge Strategy process and the use of the online information base.
It was decided that the "Better Knowledge Practice Awards" should be implemented after Phase 2 of the Knowledge for Regional NRM Program had been completed, as the pilot regional NRM bodies and CMAs for the Information and Knowledge Strategy process would have been likely winners and this may have been seen as unfair by other regional NRM bodies and CMAs.
The Information and Knowledge Strategy piloting was completed at the end of 2007 and involved Knowledge for Regional NRM Program team members, consultants Anecdote Pty Ltd and five regional NRM bodies / CMAs:
- NRM North (Tas)
- Central West CMA (NSW)
- South West NRM (Qld)
- Corangamite CMA (Vic)
- Avon Catchments Council (WA)
The online information base is this Information and Knowledge Resource Kit (IKRK). Rather than being developed as a static website which can soon become out of date, the IKRK has been developed as a collaborative "wiki" website. A wiki can be edited by anyone who has been given user access rights, meaning that the resources can be evolved, refined and further developed into the future by a community of people.
The training in the facilitation of the Information and Knowledge Strategy process and the use of the IKRK was titled the "Knowledge Leaders" training program. Representatives from 38 of Australia's 56 regional NRM bodies / CMAs have been trained as Knowledge Leaders, 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 / CMAs. The Knowledge Leaders have been trained in ten workshops held across Australia between March and June 2008. Two earlier workshops also trained a range of people who work with regional NRM bodies /CMAs at a State/Territory level, including Australian Government NRM Facilitators, State agency officers, and State regional NRM / CMA support organisations.
The Knowledge Leaders and the consultants and LWA officers who developed the IKRK have been given user access to edit this IKRK wiki website.
Packages 2 and 3
Package 2 of Phase 2 of the Knowledge for Regional NRM Program has developed the NRM Navigator including the NRM Search Engine and NRM Evidence Bases. Package 3, titled "Supporting knowledge brokering in the NRM sector", has implemented a range of initiatives such as the "Gotta question?" service and a Systematic Review Trial. Further information on Packages 2 and 3 can be found in the report Knowledge for Regional Natural Resource Management - Achievements and options .
Knowledge for Regional NRM Program wins Platinum actKM Forum Knowledge Management Award
Phase 2 of the Knowledge for Regional NRM Program won a Platinum Award in the actKM Forum 2008 Knowledge Management Awards. 'Platinum' is the highest award category and awards at this level are rarely made. The award was announced at 2008 actKM Forum Conference dinner on 14 October 2008 at University House, Australian National University, Canberra, and reads:
"This award recognises the Knowledge for Regional NRM Program - Phase 2 as an outstanding cultural and technological knowledge management program that has made significant achievements in organisational capability, performance and sustainability through the application of knowledge-based projects or activities."
On hand at the 2008 actKM Forum Conference dinner to receive the award were Phase 2 team members Nerida Hart, Bruce Boyes, Melanie Randall and Alison Carter. Also participating in the awards dinner were former Land & Water Australia Executive Director Andrew Campbell, who was instrumental in the establishment of the Knowledge for Regional NRM Program, and Knowledge Leaders Dr. Jane Chrystal and Derec Davies. After the conference, Phase 2 team members Nerida Hart, Bruce Boyes, Alison Carter and Claire Harris and Knowledge Leader Natasha Wright met for a celebratory lunch.
 The actKM Forum Platinum Award for the Knowledge for Regional NRM Program - Phase 2 |
 (L to R) Alison Carter, Bruce Boyes, Nerida Hart, Melanie Randall |
 (L to R) Andrew Campbell, Derec Davies, Nerida Hart, Alison Carter, Jane Chrystal, Bruce Boyes |
 (L to R) Natasha Wright, Nerida Hart, Bruce Boyes, Alison Carter, Claire Harris |
Acknowledgements
This Regional Knowledge Resource Kit has been developed by the Knowledge for Regional NRM Program of Land & Water Australia (LWA), funded by the Australian Government. The Knowledge for Regional NRM Program’s overarching aim has been to facilitate better linkages between regional NRM bodies / CMAs and knowledge providers, and to assist regional NRM bodies /CMAs to better manage their information and knowledge. The Knowledge for Regional NRM Program team thanks the late Professor Peter Cullen, Chair of the Steering Committee for the Program, for his guidance, support, and inspiration; and acknowledges the support and contribution of other Board, Steering Committee and LWA managers and staff.
Staff from Land & Water Australia, Anecdote Pty Ltd and pilot regions have helped to create this website. Their contributions and efforts are acknowledged with thanks:
Land & Water Australia
Bruce Boyes (Project Leader, Package 1), Nerida Hart (Program Manager, Knowledge for Regional NRM), Melanie Randall.
Anecdote Pty Ltd
Some of the knowledge strategy methodology underpinning the IKRK is provided under license from Anecdote Pty Ltd. Wiki website design and initial development by Daryl Cook, Shawn Callahan and Mark Schenk of Anecdote Pty Ltd
Pilot regions
- NRM North (Tas) - James McKee, Andrew Baldwin
- Central West CMA (NSW) - Jane Chrystal, Liz Davis, Rod Campbell
- South West NRM (Qld) - Geoff Edwards, Ric Newson, Rachel Greenfield
- Corangamite CMA (Vic) - Sonia Mahony, Peter Codd
- Avon Catchments Council (WA) - Cathy Lyons, Trish Dames
