Future Directions Group A focus on improving the educational experiences offered at our Environment Centre and School Farm

Review of Feedback and Pathways Forward

The Parents and Friends Open Workshop ‘The Must Haves’

Parents and Friends Open Workshop - ‘The Must Haves’ The Farm Fully functioning with dairy and sheep Diversity – crops and livestock More relevant farm board more active & expanded to include diverse skills Strong business model – researched and budgeted Eg: dairy – aim to make money, significant potential & growth in this industry Increased communication between key stakeholders

Parents and Friends Open Workshop - ‘The Must Haves’ The Environment Centre (Visitor Centre) Fun activities – More touch and feel activities (hands on) Expand cottage industries Utilise Vegie Patch with visiting schools Weeding Cooking with harvested produce

The Parents and Friends Open Workshop ‘Considerations’

Parents and Friends Open Workshop – ‘Considerations’ The Farm Initiate volunteer working bees – school community/staff Use available water source – increase irrigation to increase herds Develop industry partnerships – Dairy Tas, Poppies, etc. Utilise farm manager to advertise the farm -‘The Face of the Farm ’

Parents and Friends Open Workshop – ‘Considerations’ The Farm Rent Farm Managers house – return funds to farm Farm managers wage to be covered by DOE/state government A relevant farm board 5 year plan, meet regularly to give clear direction More detailed profit and loss details for farm

Parents and Friends Open Workshop – ‘For Consideration’ The Environment Centre (Visitor Centre) Increase visitor numbers Develop as a hub/portal – access via web-cams to milking, shearing, soil health, sustainable farming Feedback from visiting children used to emphasise value of the centre to DOE/minister Develop paddock to plate program Build on strengths

The Staff Workshop ‘The Must Haves’

The Staff Workshop – ‘Must Haves’ Tractor Rides Diversity of animals Museum – historical perspectives Farm experiences – shearing, milking, animals Staffing – teachers and support personnel Innovative use of technology Hands on experiences Up to date visitor facilities – camp facilities

The Staff Workshop ‘Considerations’

Staff Workshop – ‘For Consideration’ Increase visitor numbers Initiate downstream processing – chocolate & cheese Replace dairy herd with beef herd Open on weekends and holidays Develop animal nursery Lease part of farm or acquire additional land

Staff Workshop – ‘For Consideration’ Explore new cropping potential - Niche/boutique markets, hot house crops Establish a market garden Sell farm to an investor willing to continue working & upgrade and allow access Agist cattle, sheep, horses

Staff Workshop – ‘For Consideration’ Convert dairy to educational ‘demonstration’ facility – ‘Where does milk come from?’ Develop partnerships with nearby schools to facilitate Ag Science programs Investigate trusts to support farm

The Future Directions Workshop ‘Must Haves’

Future Directions Workshop – ‘Must Haves’ Animals – see, smell, feel, feed Sustainability – financial and environmental Fit for purpose facilities Focus on continuous improvement – facilities and experiences Strong educational focus

The Future Directions Workshop ‘Considerations’

Future Directions Workshop – ‘Considerations’ Demonstration models Milking, shearing ‘on demand’ Alternative business models Effective use of revenue and time Interactivity – use of IT to expand educational experiences

Future Directions Workshop – ‘Considerations’ Expand current enterprise (eggs, lambs, dairy) Explore new enterprise (beef, leasing, cropping) Value adding – ‘post farm gate’ Community supported enterprise – volunteers

Farm experience (shearing/milking) Access to animals (diversity) Effective communication Hands on, experiential activity Sustainable model (financial) Facilities fit for purpose Explore alternative farm models Focus on education Allow for continued improvement Appropriate staffing – program leaders Support personnel Improve camp facilities Promotional materials – videos etc. Fully functioning farm model Strong business model Improved communication amongst stakeholders Review of farm management group Future Directions Workshop P & F WorkshopStaff Workshop The ‘Must Haves’

Explore/present alternative farm models Explore Value Adding - farming and education Explore modifications to existing farm model Focus on Demonstration & Education Fit for Purpose Facility Community supported enterprise Increase educational activity Modify farm model Trust fund Increased government assistance Maintain working farm Expand educational opportunities Industry partnerships Future Directions Workshop P & F WorkshopStaff Workshop Considerations

Explore Alternative Environment Centre and Farm models Explore Value Adding - farming and education Explore Modifications to the current Working Farm Model Parents and Friends Workshop Staff Workshop Future Direction Workshop Pathways Forward

Modifications to the current Working Farm Model Value Adding - farming and educational Alternative Models - Environment Centre and Farm

Hagley Farm School : Vision Self-motivated, resilient and successful learners.

Hagley Farm School : Vision We will achieve this through valuing the past, embracing the present and planning innovatively for the future.

Environment Centre Educational Improvement Priorities … Connection with the Australian Curriculum Innovative use of technology Facility development

Pathways Forward Modifications to the current Working Farm Model Value Adding - farming and educational Alternative Models - Environment Centre and Farm

Educational Experiences

Environment Centre Revenue supports farm (on average) - %70 - %80 Farm Manager time applied to dairy operation - %70 - %80 < %20 of visitors see milking < %5 of visitors see shearing

Can Environment Centre and Farm Improvements: Increase the number of visitors that see milking and shearing? Increase the amount of EC revenue available for improvements to facilities and educational programs? Increase opportunities for the Farmer to support and engage in educational programs?

Pathways Forward Modifications to the current Working Farm Model Value Adding - farming and educational Alternative Models - Environment Centre and Farm

Educational Experiences

Environment Centre Revenue supports farm (on average) - %70 - %80 Farm Manager time applied to dairy operation - %70 - %80 < %20 of visitors see milking < %5 of visitors see shearing

Improvement Goals: Increase the number of visitors that see milking and shearing. Increase access to funds to improvement facilities and educational programs. Increase opportunities for the Farmer to support and engage in educational programs.

Develop high quality educational programs and facilities that support improvements to Agricultural Education at Hagley Environment Centre Focus on Milk and Wool Develop high quality Dairy and Wool awareness centre that is accessible to all visitors (camps and day visits) Develop farm yard trail experience with a focus on Ag equipment Strong focus on pre and post visit support Strong focus on use of technology Strong focus on Australian Curriculum connections Increase access to farmer to enhance experiences

Educational Improvements: High Quality Food and Fibre Experience Develop Food and Fibre awareness centre in farm yard Modifications and refurbishments of dairy and shearing shed to facilitate experience Supported by partnerships with industry bodies Milking & shearing accessible to all visitors Farmer accessible to all visitors, supports demonstrations of milking & shearing Awareness Centre includes: Separating, churning, spinning, weaving, etc Consider relocating cottage industries Interactive displays, activities

Educational Improvements: High Quality Food and Fibre Experience Modifications to dairy and shearing shed to enhance viewing and interactivity Old storage shed to become the hub of the awareness centre Displays, screens, interactive models, demonstrations Technology enhances experience: Vision of historical and advanced examples of dairy and shearing Screens in dairy and shearing shed Use of iPads to enhance interactivity

Educational Improvements: Farm Yard Experience Develop a ‘post-card’ appearance for the farm and farm yard Develop a high quality educational experience around the farm yard Improvements to fencing, farm yard entrance and access to and from Environment Centre base and toilets Improvement placement of equipment and incorporate informative signage

Future Directions Group A focus on improving the educational experiences offered at our Environment Centre and School Farm

Main Points from Feedback Dairy and Sheep studies need to be linked to curriculum through food and fibre strand Food and Fibre experiences need to offer deeper understandings A farmer needs to be visible to visitors

What’s In The Pipeline? Rehabilitation of dam forest Partnership with NRM and NSS Establish a native species interpretation trail Discussions underway with Dairy Tas re the establishment of a dairy awareness centre incorporating the old barn building Idea floated with Roberts re the establishment of a sheep/wool interpretation centre incorporating refurbishment of the shearing shed

How can we improve the Dairy Study experience?

How can we improve the Sheep/Wool Study experience?

How can we incorporate a farmer into the educational experiences? ‘The face of the farm’

How can we best develop the dam forest experience?

Other suggestions?