News

Human talent is the key driver of the future of agriculture, primary production, natural resources and our rural communities - and, hence, our relevance to extension practices

Sharing your thoughts and ideas with other like-minded people is a great way to make connections that are so crucial to strengthen our extension practices.

Save the Date!

APEN is pleased to announce its conference next year will be held in Launceston, Tasmania from Tuesday 14 to Thursday 16 November 2023.

This is the premier international event for rural and community advisory practitioners, researchers, policy makers, academics and others involved in extension and education.

This international conference will provide you with an exceptional opportunity to hear the latest extension research and practice from across Australia, New Zealand and beyond.

But don’t let us have all the fun designing this conference! We’d love you to co-design it with us to help make this the best event you attend in 2023! Please add your thoughts and ideas using this short survey and if you add your contact details, we’ll keep you informed with conference updates.

Even though it's still a year away, much of the planning is well underway. You can see what we’ve got in store for you on our conference web page.

We'll look forward to seeing you in Tassie next year!

Registrations for ExtensionChat 2022 are open!

Part Education. Part Motivation. Part Inspiration.

APEN will be hosting a series of online sessions in 2022 to provide professional development opportunities to the extension community, profile extension practice and to reinforce our technology skills.

Session 1 on Wednesday 23 November, from 1.30pm – 3.00pm AEDT
Facilitated by Jeanette Gellard – Capturing participants conversations, content, and data in online sessions

Session 2 on Wednesday 30 November, from 1.30pm – 3.00pm AEDT
Facilitated by Jeanette Long - Bringing people together and connecting online

Session 3 on Wednesday 7 December, from 1.30pm - 3.00pm AEDT
Facilitated by Denise Bewsell & John James – Effective use of online tools –the voices of experience!

Find out more

Applications for APEN’s Growing Emerging Leadership in Regional Australia and New Zealand project is now open.

For more information please click here
Applications have now closed.
Successful applicants will be notified 18 July and the Introductory Session will be held on Monday 25 July 11.30am. 1.30pm (AEST)
For further information, please contact Dr Pat Hamilton M 0409 180 164

Call for EOI - Delivery of the Growing Emerging Leadership in Regional Australia Project

The APEN Board invite suitably qualified Respondents to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the delivery of the Growing Emerging Leadership in Regional Australia project to our existing and future APEN Regional Coordinators using face-to-face and online platforms.

The project will deliver an integrated leadership and communication program for 16 to 20 agricultural extension practitioners operating within rural communities.

For more information about the project components, outcomes and evaluation criteria, please click here

Expressions of Interest are to be sent to info@apen.org.au by COB 6th June 2022

For further information, please contact Dr Pat Hamilton M: 0409 180 164

APEN 2023 International Conference - EOI Called!

Sometime between August and November 2023 - this is when the APEN AGM is due. We had our last conference in February 2022 and a conference late in 2023 would mean that the biennial schedule can be re-established after the disruption caused by Covid!

Please find here a call for EOI for the 2023 Conference.

APEN’s biennial conference, ‘the heart and soul of APEN’, provides an opportunity to:

Network
Coach and mentor
Support and showcase students and their research
Learn about and discuss extension theory
Learn about new practice, new engagement and media trends.

APEN 2023 will provide an opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences among practitioners, researchers, policy makers and others involved in extension and education.

APEN's Awards - keep them in mind for the next conference! The 2022 Results are in!

Would you like to win ... or do you know someone/a group who have done some excellent extension work during the past 5 years and would benefit from:

· Twelve months APEN Ordinary membership
· A plaque and certificate
· APEN conference registration
· The opportunity to give a presentation about the extension work for which the prize has been awarded (Individual or one person from within a group)
· Professional development bursary of $1000 AUD
· Profiling on the APEN website and communication channels

Details on the Awards for Excellence in Extension and the nomination process are available here. The 2022 APEN Award winners are detailed here.

Nominations for APEN Life Membership are also closed. Details on the Awards webpage. The new 2022 APEN Life Members details are available here.

ExtensionChat - APEN Online 2021

ExtensionChat 2021 – Foundations of Extension Design and Practice, an online training course, was held in November. Details available here.

See the Pre - Conf Masterclasses 2022 APEN Conference in Melbourne February 9.

A new APEN membership category

On 1 July 2021, APEN introduced an APEN Professional Membership (APEN-PM) in addition to the existing membership categories of: Ordinary, Student, Retiree, Overseas Affiliate, Corporate and Life membership.

Professional Membership of APEN will bestow several additional benefits including:

Recognition of your high level of skills, knowledge and experience in extension gained through professional experience and/or formal qualifications
Recognition of your high level of commitment to ongoing professional development
Recognition of your understanding of industry ethics and accountability
The use of post nominal APEN-PM and
Exposure through a listing of skills in the APEN register which employers/funders can access (on the APEN website)

To join as an APEN Professional Member you will need to submit an application documenting:

Qualifications/experience
Commitment to ongoing professional development and
Commitment to upholding APEN’s Statement of Values and Code of Ethics

See the information on how to apply here.

APEN Secretariat

There will be a change in May 2022. In the meantime, Roe is continuing on as the Secretariat and Company Secretary until the end of April.

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APEN's REIS Journal latest issue now available!

APEN's Rural Extension and Innovation Systems Journal latest issue: Volume 16 No 1 is now available on line. Click here.

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COVID-19

See the APEN COVID-19 page here.

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Upcoming APEN Activity - See the calendar too

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APEN Webinars

These are held the third Monday of each even numbered month, 2.00 to 2.45pm Melbourne time.

Webinar 1 was held on 21 February - more information - click here.

APEN Book Club

These have been introduced in 2022 to be held on the third Monday of each odd numbered month, 2.00 to 2.45pm.

Book Club 1 was held on 21 March - more information - click here.

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How to contact us

Any queries to info@apen.org.au.

Vale Shankar Chamala

Click to the page here.

Survey results from the international research on rural extension agent and advisor perspectives of extension and innovation.

Thank you to everyone who kindly participated in the international research on rural extension agent and advisor perspectives of extension and innovation. The international research was supported by the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services. Read more ....

Looking for an extension course to do?

The undergraduate and post graduate course listing was updated late in 2018. Check out the details through Careers & Training, Educational pathways or through the spreadsheet file available here

Interested in getting more out of APEN by being involved?

Besides the Secretariat, APEN is a volunteer run organisation and those volunteers get a lot out of being involved.
Many hands make light work so it you can help - that would be great! More information available here.