Barriers and bottlenecks : a case study of the implementation of extension policy for enabling sustainable natural resource management in Queensland, Australia

Internationally, extension has been a support instrument used by governments and commercial interests for improving agricultural production for hundreds, if not thousands of years. The application of extension theory and practice for natural resource management (NRM) is a more recent undertaking. However, over the last 20+ years, agencies sponsoring extension services appear to have lost confidence in extension’s ability to achieve desired outcomes. In Australia, Greg Leach’s PhD research has sought to understand the barriers and bottlenecks which have prevented the implementation of extension policy by the Queensland State Government. His research enquired into the institutionalisation of extension in Queensland, as well as approaches and mechanisms for negotiating extension policy at the national scale from 2000 to 2010. Learnings from the author’s involvement in operationalising a network of extension leaders from across Australia, underpin broader recommendations on institutionalising extension policy, and advice for extension policy to aid achievement of NRM outcomes.