Rural Affairs
The Rural Affairs Unit was established in 1987 and is now a component of the Sustainable Systems team within Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA).
Rural Affairs addresses the broader economic, social and adjustment needs of primary producers, their families, rural women and their broader communities.
It enhances the achievement of Primary Industries and Resource South Australia’s economic development goals through programs, which are aimed at increasing the effectiveness and autonomy of primary producers, their families and their communities.
The function of Rural Affairs is:
1. To assist in rural community development by:
- Facilitating the development of rural groups and organisations
- Capacity building for rural communities, primary producers, groups and organisations
- Information broking within the rural community, and between the rural community and service providers.
2. To assist PIRSA and the Government in planning and policy development by collecting, analysing, and reporting on strategic and policy information.
Capacity Development
PIRSA recognises the strategic value of building the capacity of rural communities and primary producers and Rural Affairs runs various capacity building programs.
- In 2007 the Community Capacity Assessment Tool (CCA) was developed to enable rural communities to measure social capacity in various sectors of the community.
Education and Training
Rural Affairs can assist rural communities to determine strategic education and training needs, and can facilitate the provision of appropriate training opportunities that are not available from established training institution.
The South Australian Rural Leadership Program (SARLP) was established in 1999 to provide assistance to leaders already forging ahead in their industry, and to those who have the potential to become the leaders of the future.
- The South Australian Rural Leadership Program is a six day residential, annual leadership program.
Information Provision
Rural Affairs is an information broker and can facilitate the provision of, and access to information relevant to farm families, rural communities and those who work with them.
Rural Affairs maintains a database of community and industry contacts and can distribute relevant information to specific industries and regions.
Policy Development
Rural Affairs takes a pro-active role in consulting with groups and investigating issues of importance and inputs into corporate planning and evaluation, or into policy development at corporate and government levels.
Rural Women
Rural Affairs undertakes coordination of various rural women's program's and event's.
- The South Australian Rural Women's Trust administer's seed funding for the South Australian Rural Women's Gatherings which are a community organised and run event.
- The World Rural Women's Congress Trust coordinates activities associated with past and future World Rural Women's Congresses.
- The RIRDC Rural Women's Award has a State and National selection component and is held annually.
- Women in Agriculture and Business head office is located in Rural Affairs.
Community Facilitation
Rural Affairs can assist rural communities or rural based interest groups to access expertise, information, and facilitators skilled in community development, planning, communication and facilitation preparation.
- Page URL: http://www.pir.sa.gov.au/pirsa/communities/rural_affairs
- Page Last Modified: December 14, 2007