Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources
Drought Resilience Adoption & Innovation
Drought is already a recurring feature of the Australian landscape. Drought is projected to become more frequent, severe and longer lasting in many regions as the climate changes.
The impact of drought on farmers, rural communities and the national economy is likely to worsen unless we become more drought resilient.
Researchers have a significant role to play in (i) ensuring Australia is better prepared to deal with drought and (ii) providing farmers and rural communities with the tools and knowledge to not just survive, but thrive into the future.
At NIER, we have established a dedicated initiative to support University of Newcastle research engagement in the Australian Government’s Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Program. This program works with farmers and their rural and regional communities to better prepare for drought by adopting new technologies and best practices that reduce exposure to drought risks and build long-term drought resilience and preparedness.
The program includes:
- Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs
- Drought Resilience Innovation Grants
- The Drought Resilience Research and Adoption Investment Plan
- The Science to Practice Forum
- A Knowledge Platform.
Key strategies
Our focus is on ensuring drought-resilience research outputs, technology and best practice are applied and adopted by farmers and their communities sustain productivity and profitability in times of drought.
NIER will support academic engagement in two key focus areas:
Southern Queensland Northern NSW Drought Resilience Adoption & Innovation Hub
The Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales (SQNNSW) Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub is one of eight hubs established as part of the Department of Agriculture Water and the Environment (DAWE) Drought Resilience Research and Adoption Program. The hub designs activities in collaboration with farmers to meet local needs.
Drought Resilience Innovation Grants
The Drought Resilience Innovation Grants provide the opportunity for drought resilience projects to assist Australian farmers, their communities, and local business. The grants will result in the adoption of innovative approaches and development of new technology to improve drought resilience.
NIERs Engagement Pathways
NIER’s collaboration model will be used as a platform for University of Newcastle researcher engagement in the SQNNSW Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub.
The University of Newcastle is recognised by this Hub for its expertise in the following key areas:
- Wellbeing for farming communities and mental health
- Indigenous water values
- Climate science, climate risk assessment/management and climate resilience
- Hydrology and water resources management
- Decision making under uncertainty
- Soil science, erosion monitoring/modelling and landscape rehabilitation
- The energy water nexus
- Water technologies
Over the coming years, opportunities to participate in research will be communicated via the Drought Hubs and through the Drought Resilience Innovation Research Program. These opportunities will be shared via the University of Newcastle’s representative on the SQNNSW Hub’s Science and Industry Advisory Committee, Assoc Prof Anthony Kiem.
NIER will facilitate regular knowledge sharing sessions between University of Newcastle academics to communicate emerging opportunity areas and to stay abreast of relevant expertise.
Communication and dissemination around Student involvement, IP and accessing Hub resources and material will also be shared in these sessions.
Contact
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.