Communities of Practice Project
The Mulloon Institute’s ‘Communities of Practice Project’ (CoPP) is working with land managers around Australia to strategically improve water cycling and manage climate risk.
Backed by the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund, producers will rapidly gain skills in natural infrastructure and farm-system solutions which are proven to hold water in the landscape.
Over two years, Mulloon Institute staff will lead a series of extension activities that build participants’ capacity to plan, design and undertake landscape rehydration projects using low-risk, nature-based solutions for drought resilience.
The program also aims to engage respectfully with Indigenous custodians and foster collaborative approaches to healing Country in each location. The project is designed as a collaboration between the Institute and NRM partners to foster the growth of local communities of practice that will continue beyond the project tenure.
Throughout 2023–2025, five communities will participate in the project in two streams: Land Managers and NRM Professionals/ Community Leaders.
Training
Field days
Introducing the Mulloon Institute's approach to fostering drought resilience and restoring degraded land. Participants gain a foundational understanding of landscape processes and the critical role of water cycling in functional landscapes.
Bootcamps
A skills-based, two-day course to build participants' capacity to implement a landscape rehydration project and optimise water cycling on their property.
Mentoring
Select bootcamp graduates are offered one-on-one mentoring to support them to design, plan and implement a low-risk project.
Professionals PROGRAM
Natural resource management professionals and community leaders are supported to advance their technical skills in landscape rehydration and strengthen their community engagement strategies to support improved ecological and farming outcomes in their region.
Project Day
A practical, on-ground event for the whole community to see a project designed and built resulting from the Mentoring Program
Locations, details & links
This subsidised program brings tailored strategies, one-on-one mentoring and demonstration projects to five locations around Australia.
New South Wales
Field Day, 26 September 2023, Bingara
Two-day Bootcamp, 27-28 September 2023, Elsmore
Read the blog review
Read about the Mentoring Program underway
Project Day: coming in Spring 2024
Queensland
Field Day, 16 November 2023, Willows Gemfields
Two-day Bootcamp, 17-18 November 2023, Bogantungan
Read the blog review
Project Day: coming in Spring 2024
Western Australia
Introduction to Landscape Rehydration, 25 March 2024, Carrolup
Two-day Bootcamp, 26-27 March 2024, Carrolup
Mentoring Program: commences April 2024
Project Day: coming in Spring 2024
Northern Territory – early 2024
Introduction to Landscape Rehydration, 17 April 2024, Eva Valley
Two-day Bootcamp, 18-19 April 2024, Eva Valley
Mentoring Program: commences May 2024
Project Day: coming in Autumn 2025
Victoria
Field Day, 22 May 2024, Bass Coast
Two-day Bootcamp, 23-24 May 2024, Bass Coast
Mentoring Program: commences June 2024
Project Day: coming in Spring 2024
Professionals Intensive
Read the blog review for the eastern states event
South Western Australia: coming in June 2024
Partners & participating organisations
Funding
This project has received funding from the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund.