FRDC have commenced development of their 2020-2025 Research, Development & Extension Plan (RD&E Plan). Consultation will be vital to ensure that FRDC is able to accurately or adequately interpret and respond to RD&E needs of Australia’s fishing and aquaculture community.
Find out more on the RD&E Plan 2020-2025 Planning page.
Strategic planning is central to the FRDC’s business. A five year plan guides investment in research, development and extension (RD&E), and each year the FRDC scans its business environment and reviews its RD&E activities to ensure its portfolio is balanced and well directed.
FRDC’s RD&E investment planning is undertaken with reference to the priorities of the Australian Government and industry priorities as determined through extensive consultation with key stakeholders including the Australian Fisheries Management Forum (AFMF), industry representative bodies and Fisheries Research Advisory Bodies (FRABs).
The development of the current five year plan was undertaken alongside the development of the National Fishing and Aquaculture RD&E Strategy, a component of the National Primary Industries RD&E Framework. This ensures that FRDC’s investments support national priorities, and encourages efficiencies across the national RD&E system.
The over-arching framework for primary industries RD&E is the National Primary Industries Research, Development and Extension Framework, to which governments, the research and development corporations, research providers and primary industry peak bodies have contributed. The Framework aims to encourage greater collaboration and promote continuous improvement in the investment of RD&E resources nationally. The document that outlines the future RD&E directions of the fishing and aquaculture industry within that framework is Working Together: The National Fishing and Aquaculture RD&E Strategy.
The establishment of the National Fishing and Aquaculture Research, Development and Extension (RD&E) Strategy provides direction to improve the focus, efficiency and effectiveness of RD&E to support Australia’s fishing and aquaculture industry. The Strategy builds on the platform established by the first and provides a nationally agreed, common vision for the industry over the next five years, guiding the investment of millions of dollars of state and national research funding.
The FRDC's Research, Development and Extension Plan 2015–2020 is its primary strategic document relating to the fishing industry. As the principal source of information about the FRDC’s policies, programs and operations, the plan:
The FRDC’s current RD&E Plan runs from 1 July 2015 through to 30 June 2020.
The FRDC is required by its enabling legislation to develop an Annual Operating Plan (AOP) each year. The AOP, provides context for the FRDC’s operating environment and highlights the key strategic areas of investment for the coming financial year. When looking to apply for funding the AOP is a key strategic document that should be referred to by stakeholders.