Corporate & Government Services
Alan Blackburn and Associates Consulting provide a range of services to corporations and government agencies.
Corporate Training
Alan Blackburn and Associates Consulting provides high quality corporate training in a range of areas relating to farm business and natural resource management. We pride ourselves in the skilled application of adult learning principles and the creation of resource materials which facilitate the understanding and application of complex issues in real world situations.
Examples of corporate training programs are presented below.
VFF Computerised Farm Management Project
For a period of 8 years Alan Blackburn and Associates delivered two Statewide training programs as part of this project. They were:
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Farm Planning for Drought and Bushfire Recovery
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Computerised Farm Business Management
Over the period 1997-2004 Alan Blackburn and Associates trained over 8000 participants across Victoria in one of the largest and most cost effective and successful farmer projects in Australia. All training outcomes were evaluated. Average evaluation scores from participants were very high.
Australian Institute of Management Farmer Training
In the mid 1990s the Australian Institute of Management ran a statewide series of 9 day workshops for leading farmers in 24 locations across Victoria. The workshops focused on Business Management. The three day module on Financial Business Management was designed and delivered by Alan Blackburn and Associates.
Government Projects
Alan Blackburn and Associates Consulting provide services to Government agencies in a range of areas relating to Farm Business and Natural Resource Management. Examples of Government projects are:
National Landcare Facilitator Project
Alan Blackburn, as one of the two principals in the Rural Resources Group Pty Ltd, managed this project for Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (1997-2005). The project, among other things, involved running training for regional and state landcare coordinators Australia wide. 2 to 4 day seminars/workshops were conducted at locations across Australia.
Rural Counselling Resource Centre
In the early – mid 1990s DAFF (then AFFA) awarded a contract to run a Rural Counselling Centre for Rural Counsellors. The contract was awarded to Alan Blackburn and Rod Ashby, directors of Rural Resources Group Pty Ltd. As project managers and with assistance of team members, Alan Blackburn and Rod Ashby designed, facilitated and participated in the delivery of the 4 day National Training Conferences for Rural Counsellors.
Farm$mart resources for DPI, Vic
Alan Blackburn and Associates prepared a range of resources to support the “Farm$mart” project, under contract to DPI. These included:
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The Farm$mart Resource Manual – which was used to decide the framework for the statewide training
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Modules for delivery across Victoria including:
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Risk management for the grass fed Dairy Industry
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Strategic drought management
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Off-farm investment
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Drought Policy
Alan Blackburn and Associates Consulting has maintained an active input into the drought policy debate and provide group training and individual assistance to farmers in their strategic and tactical drought planning management. We continue to offer drought management services to government agencies, farmer organisations and individual farmers.
As an indication of our capability and experience in this area we list below some contributions:
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Ran a statewide series of regional workshops for DPI staff on Strategic Drought Management.
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Ran a series of workshops across the Mallee which targeted farmers. These were also on Strategic Drought Management.
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Principal author of the report “Characteristics of Self Reliant and Efficient Drought Management” prepared for the Bureau of Rural Resources.
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Wrote the booklet “Managing Drought Risks in the Mallee”. This booklet was distributed to farmers across the Mallee.
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Ran a series of Farmer Workshops “Strategic Drought Management” as part of a DPI policy.
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Assisted over 100 farmers on their properties, in two day individual training “Farm Planning for Drought and Bushfire Recovery”. This project was managed by the VFF and delivered by Alan Blackburn and Associates Consulting.
Farm Management Publications
Alan Blackburn and Associates Consulting works with Farmer Organisations, Government Agencies and Corporations to prepare training and resource materials, which they provide to their farmer clients. Our particular skill lies in explaining complex issues and concepts in a way farmers can learn, understand and use.
Example publications are listed below.
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“The Cost of Farm Finance” - This publication was given to farmers across Australia
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“Managing Drought Risks in the Mallee” - This publication was given to 4000 farmers in the Mallee district of Victoria
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“Financing Your Farm” - This publication has been printed in 4 editions and sold 15,000 copies.
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“Managing and Planning Farm Finance” - This publication was provided free to ANZ farmer clients.