Aquaculture-Community Futures: North West Tasmania
FRDC Community Engagement Strategy Evaluation Framework
The objective for this project is to design and pilot an M&E framework and toolkit for fisheries and aquaculture community engagement. The M&E Framework support a more systematic approach to industry evaluation and generate useful information to support industry decision-making by clearly articulating priority outcomes. While the evaluation toolkit will provide industry organisations with practical resources for planning, conducting and learning from the evaluation of community engagement processes
Final report
NCCP: Building community support for carp control: understanding community and stakeholder attitudes and assessing social effects
Our Pledge: Australian seafood industry response to community values and expectations
NCCP: Carp questionnaire survey and community mapping tool - empowering the community to be part of the national solution to Carp
Developing a community communication plan and communication resources for the seafood industry
There is a government and community perception that women and regional communities are disadvantaged and require special consideration in regards to developing skills and securing a positive and productive future.
Much of the Australian seafood industry is based in regional Australia where the challenges to the industry include changing fisheries management regimes, physical and climatic environments, financial restraints, and increasing social and political impacts.
The women supporting the seafood industry need more information regarding how to-
organise local WIN activities, look for funding for activities, organise a school and communication education program, tame the media, do displays- for example in shopping centres or at community festivals and fairs, organise seafood festivals such as the Yamba and Geelong Seafood Festivals, lobby for support from communities and community leaders and make better use of communication technologies such as the internet and email.
Uniting women in regional Australia with common purpose and the necessary confidence, and communication and leadership skills is essential in maximising their input within the seafood industry and the local community.
The community needs better information about the seafood industry and seafood for consumption in regards to types of fishing activities, fisheries management, industry environmental and sustainability initiatives, research, careers and training, Indigenous fishing activities, aquaculture, seafood for good health, seafood handling and cooking with seafood.
Changing public perceptions about the seafood industry requires a broad and organised strategy aimed at all levels of the community.
This project provides a coordinated communication strategy for the under-utilised energies of women in the seafood industry, and becomes a core resource for WIN’s activities. The prosperity and longevity of WINSC relies on a high level of motivation among the women to give freely of their time and energies as well as financial and emotional support from the industry. To achieve representation and recognition they need to establish themselves as a credible and productive grassroots movement in the communities of regional Australia.
This project provides support for the skills development of women in the seafood industry to achieve the WINSC vision statement: 'The National Women’s Industry Network is a network of women in the fishing and seafood industry. Network members influence decision making to ensure a profitable, dynamic, secure, innovative and sustainable industry. An industry which is proactive and responsive to the needs of industry and the community (WINSC Annual Report 1999-2000)'.
Final report
The project provides strategies for all levels of the industry to effectively communicate with all levels of the community, including community leaders.
The communication resources provide practical, user-friendly information for individuals and groups to be active in consumer and community education about the seafood industry. It encourages community involvement in all aspects of the seafood industry. These communication tools have enduring qualities and can be used and referred to in many current and future situations.
The whole-of-industry approach extended the ownership and commitment to the processes of community communication. ASIC and WINSC along with SSA, OceanWatch, state industry organisations and various sections of government have assisted in the broad implementation of the Guide and Resources.
Through the collaborative processes in the development, distribution and implementation of the Guide, Resources and workshops, many individuals, groups and organisations have had the opportunity to work together on a proactive project.
Key words: communication, community communication, communication strategies
Seafood CRC: A community intervention approach to increasing seafood consumption.
Value for money: There is a need to overcome the barriers to seafood consumption, particularly those cited in the general seafood consumption (Ruello, 2000) and the peri-natal seafood consumption studies conducted in Perth (McManus et al, BMC Public Health 2007). Establishing regular seafood consumption as a healthy, cost effective dietary option has the potential to impact upon short and long-term health, both in the general population and in those with specific health conditions. This study aims to develop strategies to increase seafood consumption by targeting specific sectors of the population (e.g. children, consumers) and groups with specific health conditions (e.g. pregnancy, diabetes, heart disease, obesity). The project should result in increased seafood consumption with concomitant increases in value for the seafood industry.
Level of Impact: The condition/sector educational resources will be developed in user-friendly formats/programs to meet the needs of each of the specific target groups and to ensure maximum uptake. For example, condition specific resources will be in formats that facilitate discussion between general practitioners and clients to promote seafood as part of a healthy diet. They will also be extended through relevant representative bodies (e.g. WAGP Network, Diabetes Council, Heart Foundation). Resources for schools will be developed in line with existing curriculum frameworks across a range of disciplines and piloted through existing and relevant educational programs. Resources will be initially developed at a state level with the potential to be extended nationally through existing links.
Final report
The Community Intervention to Increase Seafood Consumption (CIISC) Project aimed to translate the most up-to-date evidence around the health benefits of regular seafood consumption into a suite of resources and educational programs specific to the needs of various sectors within the community. The resources were then trialled and evaluated in a single community to determine whether seafood consumption in that community is significantly altered through access to the developed resources.
The project followed a participatory action research model with each stage of the research informing the subsequent stages, thus ensuring the outcomes were relevant to the end users.