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| About the Subprogram | |
Strategic Plan Summary Operational Procedures Contact Details |
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Operational Procedures
One of the main aims of the subprogram is to ensure that abalone aquaculture research and development is coordinated to make the most efficient use of available resources and integrate industry and research providers. To ensure that the Abalone Aquaculture Subprogram continues to address the proposed industry requirements and that effective and efficient communication is maintained the following administrative arrangements have been set in place and have proved to be effective vehicles to achieve their aims.
Administrative Structure
Subprogram Leader
Aim: To manage the Abalone Aquaculture Subprogram to ensure that:
- Milestone objectives are met on time,
- Projects are coordinated and integrated efficiently to ensure national collaboration of research,
- Meetings and workshops are organised efficiently and effectively,
- Reporting structures are set in place,
- Subprogram reports and newsletters are coordinated and delivered,
- An appropriate and approved (by the steering committee) media policy is developed,
- Advice is provided to both the steering and scientific committees,
- New funding applications are sought and coordinated,
- The research and development Strategic plan is relevant and current to reflect industry’s research needs, and
- Subprogram outcomes are promoted through effective and efficient extension.
Leader: Dr Ann Fleming
Tenure: The Director of the FRDC chooses the subprogram leader. Tenure is for the life of the project (3 years) and is then dependent on the FRDC Board approving continuation.
Steering Committee
Aim: To provide management direction for the subprogram: to identify development opportunities; to develop research priorities and establish their relevance; to ensure no duplication of efforts; and to assess the subprogram’s outcomes in terms of meeting objectives and benefits to industry.
Participants: Currently consist of:
- the subprogram leader (Dr Ann Fleming),
- an FRDC representative (Programs Manager, Dr Patrick Hone),
- a South Australian industry representative (currently Ms Rachel Lawrie, SA Abalone Developments),
- a Victorian representative (currently, Mr Mark Gervis, Southern Ocean Mariculture),
- a Tasmanian representative (currently Mr Mike Wing, Tasmanian Tiger Abalone) and
- a West Australian representative (currently Mr John de Jose, Australian Ocean Harvest).
Tasks and obligations of the Steering Committee:
- To provide industry feedback and views;
- To prioritise industry’s research needs;
- To ensure that research outcomes are commercially focused,
- To coordinate, where applicable, industry and research provider involvement so as to maximise usage of available resources,
- To facilitate industry extension and technological transfer,
Tenure: The subprogram leader writes to each state abalone growers associations at the beginning of each three-year funding period and requests nominations for state representatives to act on the steering committee. Tenure is for the 3-year life of the management project.
Operational Objective
The following management procedures relate to the Operational Objective of the subprogram: To efficiently and effectively manage the Abalone Aquaculture Subprogram to maximise the contribution of FRDC-funded research and development towards the growth, viability and economic benefit of the abalone aquaculture industry.
research and development Priority Setting Cycle
Related Strategy: By developing and maintaining strategic research and development directions.
Scheduled Period: Every two years. Next due Jan — Mar 2001, Jan — Mar 2003.
Methods: A letter is sent to each state association (WA, SA, Victoria, Tasmania) asking that a discussion be held at their next meeting to compile a list of their state’s research and development priorities.
The subprogram leader collates, summarises and identifies research and development priorities on a state-by-state basis and on a national level.
research and development priorities are sent to the steering committee and to each state growers association.
Performance Indicators:
- To effectively manage an research and development priority setting cycle every two years.
- To be successful in gaining funding for projects submitted under the subprogram.
Related Strategy: By developing new projects to meet strategic research and development directions.
Scheduled Period: Mar — 1st Dec 2000; Mar — 1st Dec 2001; Mar — 1st Dec 2002; Mar — 30-Jun 2003.
Methods:
FRDC identifies budget spending on abalone aquaculture for the next funding cycle.
The steering committee meets and identifies projects to be supported based on industry’s research and development priorities (both state and national needs) (see above for procedure to set research and development priorities) and budget.
The steering committee defines the planned outcomes of the new proposal.
The steering committee may identify the broad objectives of the projects.
The steering committee allocates an indicative budget to each proposal.
The state FRABs are notified of research and development priorities and dates of submissions.
The subprogram leader distributes a call for expressions of interest to researchers/industry with expertise in the field.
Applicants submit a project pre-proposal.
The steering committee selects the successful applicant based on research capacity, facilities, in-kind contribution, and industry involvement. External experts may be contracted to provide advise to the steering committee.
The state FRABs are notified of the successful applicants.
The successful applicant writes a full draft application.
The full draft applications are sent to the relevant state FRABs and the steering committee.
The subprogram leader and steering committee reviews the applications and makes requests for changes if necessary. External experts may be contracted to provide advise to the steering committee.
The full applications are submitted to the subprogram leader.
A package of applications endorsed by the Abalone Aquaculture Subprogram is submitted to the FRDC by the subprogram leader by the 1st Dec.
Performance Indicators:
- To implement and manage a projects development cycle annually.
- To engage research based on the subprogram’s research and development strategic plan.
- To be successful in gaining funding for projects submitted under the subprogram.
Research Management
Related Strategy: By providing a productive, cooperative, national research framework for all Australian abalone aquaculture researchers.
Scheduled Period: Jan 2000 — Jun 2003.
Methods:
The subprogram leader will:
- Direct researchers to draw on a broad range of expertise.
During project development the subprogram leader will identify other researchers with expertise and will direct researchers to establish collaborative links (e.g. as co-investigators, informal advisors at planning meetings, exchange of technicians in laboratories, etc). These collaborations will be detailed in project applications. Researchers will also be provided with linkages to less directly related projects that may complement and enhance the outcomes of some components of their research.
- Continue to maintain a comprehensive knowledge of the research work done on abalone aquaculture in the past and currently, both in Australia and overseas.
This will ensure that research and development is not duplicated and researchers can form an informal association with other research groups so that they can access a broad information base.
- Advise on scientific methodology where experiments require a uniformity of approach.
- Provide an informal information service on accessing knowledge and expertise.
- Actively encourage other research projects to become informally affiliate with the subprogram.
- Actively seek other funds for high-priority research not funded by the FRDC.
- Actively gather other knowledge bases and disseminate relevant information.
- Facilitate the hosting of research at commercial facilities where appropriate and feasible.
Performance Indicators:
- To increase the level of collaboration between researchers and between researchers and industry.
- Effectively maintain a high level of national cooperation and openness between industry members, and between industry and researchers.
- To provide consensus between researchers and between researchers and industry.
- To provide a focus of knowledge.
- To attract other resources; researchers, funds, knowledge.
research and development Outcomes Management
Related Strategy: By ensuring timely research and development outcomes according to industry requirements.
Scheduled Period: Jan 2000 - Jun 2003.
Methods:
To ensure all planned research is industry focused and the science is of a high standard, the following reporting system is followed:
The subprogram leader directs researchers to submit comprehensive experimental preschedules prior to the commencement of all experiments. Project applications must state the scheduled time for submitting each preschedule to the subprogram leader. Researchers are required to use the Subprogram Experimental Preschedule format for setting out preschedules.
The subprogram leader sends the preschedule to the steering committee and, if necessary, to others who can advise on certain aspects of the scientific merit of the preschedule. Comments are sent to the researcher and required changes are implemented. Where it is deemed that the researcher needs advice on certain aspects of the proposed research, the subprogram leader provides a linkage to a researcher with the appropriate expertise.
Performance Indicators:
- To implement and manage a reporting system between the subprogram leader and researchers.
- To implement and manage a reporting system between the subprogram leader and industry.
- To ensure research is industry focused and the science is of a high standard.
- To report to researchers on industry’s views on project progress.
Communication Objective
The following management procedures relate to the communication objective of the subprogram: To maintain a high level of effective communication between the subprogram leader, its stakeholders, researchers and the FRDC.
Researcher and Industry Communication
Related Strategy: By providing effective communication and consultation between the subprogram leader, it’s stakeholders, researchers and the FRDC.
Scheduled Period: 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003.
Methods:
Review of research progress and direction: The subprogram leader convenes meetings with the steering committee on an as-need basis. A major function of the committee meetings is to ensure all progress within projects has met contracted milestones and ensure that the research program is making a valuable contribution towards the achievement of the subprogram objectives. The steering committee may make recommendations to the FRDC Board in relation to potential changes to the objectives of the research program, or instances where project progress is unsatisfactory. The following reporting system is followed:
Milestone reports are submitted to the subprogram leader and distributed to the steering committee for comment. If the subprogram leader or the steering committee does not think the objectives of the experiments reported have been met, then the researcher must address these concerns. Milestone reports and project progress are reviewed at the steering committee meetings. The subprogram leader must approve the milestone report before it is sent to the FRDC. Milestone reports are then sent to the FRDC.
Performance Indicators:
- To communicate and consult regularly with stakeholders and researchers.
Promote Project Outcomes
Related Strategy: By providing effective media to ensure that project results/outcomes are widely known as soon as they become available.
Scheduled Period: Workshop: annually, Proceedings: annually; Newsletter: as-need basis; Website: 15-Jan-02 — 31-July-02.
Methods:
One of the major roles of the subprogram leader is to ensure that outputs from individual projects are developed and extended according to industry requirements. The primary coordinated means of extending results is through the annual workshop, the publication of workshop proceedings, and the subprogram’s newsletter (published at least annually or as required). These methods of communications have been very effective in the past and well supported by industry. A new method of communicating project outcomes to be implemented in this project is through the subprogram’s website.
Performance Indicators:
- To widely and effectively disseminate information on research outcomes in a timely manner during the course of the projects.
Promote Output Extensions
Strategy: By ensuring that project outputs (extension products) are provided by researchers in a form that is quickly disseminated and easily adopted by industry.
Methods:
Coordination of research reports: The subprogram leader collates progress and final reports from projects within the subprogram for delivery in a common format to FRDC. These reports are distributed to members of the steering committee for comment and review.
Facilitation of research uptake: The subprogram directs researchers to extend their results in various formats, depending on the project outcomes and industry needs. The steering committee has input into methods of extension when reviewing new applications prior to submission to the FRDC. The subprogram leader ensures that researchers have allocated an appropriate budget to the production of extension materials and activities.
Information is developed in different formats depending on the intended target audience (government managers, new investors, other researchers, general public, media (press), etc). The subprogram primarily targets its extension strategy to the farmer as the primary user of the information. It is essential that information be in a form that is easily understood, has the complete technical information necessary and is suitable as a working information source (e.g., poster, handbook, etc). The majority of abalone farmers have an excellent knowledge of science and scientific process that means information sources can use most of the more technical terms and technology. The subprogram reviews all information to ensure appropriate standards are met and the extension sits within the subprogram's communication objective. All extension products are advertised and sold through the subprogram’s communication media.
Performance Indicators:
- To consult industry on the most appropriate research outputs.
- To direct researchers to provide the research outputs required by industry.
- To ensure that project budgets have appropriate fund allocation for the production of outputs.
Annual Operating Plan
Related Strategy: By reporting to the FRDC annually on the operations and activities of the subprogram (Annual Operating Plan):
Methods:
Reported within the AOP is:
- Activity description for last 12 Months
A brief background on the current operating environment - how the sector is progressing any new legislative requirements etc, Provide a description of operating procedure, meetings/workshops, summery of how each research project is going.
- Summary of Strategic Plan or directions
A description of the main points of the strategic plan.
- Communication and technology transfer activities
Description of activities, including reports published, newsletters, new technologies, etc.
- Proposed New Research
Provide a ranking/priorities for applications that relate to the subprogram.
- Budget
Provide a summary of budget and anticipated forward budget estimates based on continuing and proposed new projects.
Provide a description of any proposed budget changes that require Board approval .
Performance Indicators:
- To report to the FRDC on subprogram operation and activities.
