To ensure the views of stakeholders are considered in AWI’s operations and that they are updated on activities, AWI implements an Annual Planning & Consultation Cycle (PDF 177Kb). The comprehensive cycle covers woolgrowers, woolgrower representative groups, domestic supply-chain representative organisations and other partners right along the global wool supply-chain. While consultation with stakeholders is ongoing, the cycle reflects the three-year cycle on which AWI’s business model is based.

The Annual Planning and Consultation Cycle - fully integrated across the business in 2010/11 – schedules consultation activities at key points in the business planning cycle, ensuring the views of stakeholders are incorporated in AWI activities.

For example, the investment priorities put forward by woolgrowers at the October Woolgrower Industry Consultative Committee meeting and Bi-Annual Woolgrower Forum form the basis of the On-farm research, development and extension priorities in the following year’s Annual Operating Plan. This ensures AWI’s investments are directly driven by industry.

The Annual Planning and Consultation Cycle is updated annually to reflect planned stakeholder engagement by all business units for the next year.

Examples by which AWI engages stakeholders include:

• Bi-Annual Woolgrower Forums
• Woolgrower Industry Consultative Committee meetings
• Regular meetings with woolgrower representative bodies and key processors
• Forums with woolgrowers in wool producing areas
• Trade and retail partner consultation forums
• Retailer and brand workshops and roadshows
• Woolmark licensee workshops and meetings
• Meetings with manufacturers and media partners in key markets
• Publications such as the quarterly Beyond the Bale magazine, AWI’s online newsletter and the AWI website.

AWI WOOLGROWER INDUSTRY CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE

AWI introduced the Woolgrower Industry Consultative Committee (ICC) in 2010 to formally and systematically engage with key woolgrower representative organisations.

The ICC’s key role is to provide woolgrower input into AWI’s business planning and priority-setting processes (including Strategic and Annual Operating plans). The ICC also provides a forum for woolgrower representative organisations to provide feedback on issues relevant to AWI’s research, development and marketing functions.

The ICC comprises the president or delegates of the following woolgrower representative organisations:

• Australian Association of Stud Merino Breeders
• Australian Superfine Woolgrowers Association
• Australian Wool Growers Association
• WoolProducers Australia
• A non-Merino breed representative
• A sheepmeat representative.

Three meetings are held each year, with the last meeting each year also including presidents of State Farm Organisation wool councils.
Presentations from the meetings are available below:

• 8th June, 2011 (PDF 2.45Mb)
• 4 October, 2011 (PDF 1.27Mb)

STATE FARM ORGANISATION ENGAGEMENT

As well as day-to-day discussions with State Farm Organisations, AWI formally engages this stakeholder group through quarterly updates on AWI activities and operational issues. These updates are the same as those presented to the Woolgrower Industry Consultative Committee, ensuring all stakeholders receive the same information on AWI’s activities.

A key part of AWI’s two-way consultation with State Farm Organisations is ensuring the views of their woolgrower members are passed back to AWI for consideration in its activities.

AWI considers the issues raised by State Farm Organisations and a response is provided. AWI also circulates a regular memo to all State Farm Organisations providing advice on issues raised in other states which are of importance to woolgrowers across Australia.

BI-ANNUAL WOOLGROWER FORUM

The Bi-Annual Woolgrower Forum is an important forum for AWI to directly engage woolgrowers in its business planning activities.

Held at key periods in the business planning cycle, the key functions of the Bi-Annual Woolgrower Forum are to provide woolgrower advice on investment priorities, the development of AWI’s Strategic and Annual Operating Plans and other industry issues.

For outcomes from the Bi-Annual Woolgrower Forums, click here.

ANIMAL WELFARE FORUM

AWI established the Animal Welfare Forum in 2009 as a forum for engaging key animal welfare organisations and researchers on sheep welfare issues.

The Animal Welfare Forum includes key stakeholders in animal health and welfare: RSPCA Australia; the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA); researchers from CSIRO, Melbourne and Sydney universities; Animals Australia; Compassion in World Farming; and Animal Liberation.

The Animal Welfare Forum meets twice per year and allows for robust and open dialogue between parties on issues of importance to sheep health and welfare.