For drought and climate resilience research to make a real difference on farms, it needs to be grounded in the day‑to‑day realities of growers and regional communities.
The Hub’s bursary program helps university students link their research with grower groups and agricultural companies, giving them firsthand insight into farming systems, local challenges, and industry priorities. This experience strengthens the relevance of their work and builds their confidence in sharing research with farmers and industry.
By supporting students to engage early with production, the program helps build the next generation of researchers who understand extension, collaboration, and the importance of practical, on‑farm impact.
Benefits to students and industry
Students report that the bursary program has expanded their skills, networks, and understanding of Western Australian agriculture. From their testimonials, key outcomes include:
- Deeper insight into how climate change affects farming systems and supply chains
- A better understanding of how growers make decisions and what influences the adoption of new technologies
- Stronger critical‑thinking skills and a clearer sense of how to design research that benefits growers
- Exposure to major conferences, study tours, and workshops that broadened their professional networks
- Valuable experience working across different agroecological zones and learning how regional differences shape farming challenges and opportunities
Students also highlighted that access to the Grower Group Alliance network made it far easier to connect with growers, understand local perspectives, and carry out meaningful, applied research.
How the program works
The bursary program supports Master’s and PhD students from the Hub’s partner universities (The University of Western Australia, Curtin University, Murdoch University, and Edith Cowan University) to integrate and extend their research in real world scenarios.
Bursary recipients can use the funds to work with Western Australian grower groups and industry, develop participatory research, and attend or present at workshops, field days, or conferences. These activities help students build extension skills, understand the value of co‑designed research, and see how collaboration accelerates the adoption of new practices on farm.
Current bursaries
In search of the super cow: Understanding the genetic and behavioural factors influencing body composition in WA rangelands beef cattle
This project focuses on understanding how genetics and grazing behaviour influence body composition in WA rangelands beef cattle, and subsequent effects on reproductive efficiency and steer performance (e.g. growth and meat quality).
Lead: University of Western Australia (UWA)
Funder: SW WA Hub through DAFF – Future Drought Fund, WA Agricultural Research Collaboration (WAARC), University of Western Australia (UWA)
Partners: Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit (AGBU), Zoetis Genetics
Evaluating the practicality of using broadacre agricultural seeding machinery to sow native seed mixes
This project aims to understand whether broadacre seeding machinery used across the Wheatbelt could be used as an alternative direct-seeding method for native seed mixes, if native mixes were pelleted to the size of these commonly sown crops.
Lead: Curtin University
Funder: SW WA Hub through DAFF – Future Drought Fund, Australian Research Council Training Centre for Healing Country, Lotterywest-funded Native Seed Technology and Innovation Hub for Western Australia, with additional funding from project partners
Partners: Greening Australia, Bush Heritage Australia, Wilga Farming Australia, Nowanup, Gondwana Link, and the Native Seed Technology and Innovation Hub
Hot and hormonal: Investigating antioxidant strategies to improve reproductive outcomes of livestock undergoing heat stress
This study will address knowledge gaps surrounding the interaction between heat stress and the reproductive cycle of cattle, and the efficacy of supplementing rangeland cattle with antioxidants to support thermoregulation.
Lead: University of Western Australia (UWA)
Funder: SW WA Hub through DAFF – Future Drought Fund, WA Agricultural Research Collaboration (WAARC), Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), Gascoyne Pilbara Rangelands Initiative (GPRI)
Partners: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), Murdoch University, Wyloo Station
Past bursaries
Views and positions of WA grain growers on grain traceability
Investigating grain growers’ perceptions and attitudes towards enhancing the traceability of grain’s sustainability credentials.
Lead: University of Western Australia (UWA)
Partners: Southern Dirt, Farmanco, WA trade office Jakarta, CBH
Funder: SW WA Hub through DAFF – Future Drought Fund
Farm to Port: understanding grain supply chain in Western Australia
Investigating growers’ views and experiences concerning grain supply chains and related uncertainties in South-West Western Australia.
Lead: University of Western Australia (UWA)
Partners: PlanFarm, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), South East Premium Wheat Growers Association (SEPWA), Facey Group, Merredin & Districts Farm Improvement Group (MADFIG)
Funder: SW WA Hub through DAFF – Future Drought Fund
Impact of farm-level management decisions on soil carbon content
Investigating the impact of farm-level management decisions on soil carbon content down to one metre on a WA Wheatbelt property.
Lead: University of Western Australia (UWA)
Partners: North Stirlings Pallinup, WA Livestock Research Council (WALRC)
Funder: SW WA Hub through DAFF – Future Drought Fund
Fit-for-purpose water: optimising water quality for sustainable chemical applications
Assessing water quality used for chemical applications in agricultural production systems.
Lead: University of Western Australia (UWA)
Partners: Merredin & Districts Farm Improvement Group (MADFIG), Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative (AHRI)
Funder: SW WA Hub through DAFF – Future Drought Fund
Unravelling the impact of rhizosheath size on drought and nutrient use efficiency in wheat
Investigating the responses of wheat genotypes with contrasting rhizosheath size to drought and nitrogen and phosphorous supply when grown in acid soils with high aluminium content.
Lead: University of Western Australia (UWA)
Funder: SW WA Hub through DAFF – Future Drought Fund, WA Agricultural Research Collaboration (WAARC)
Evaluating the application of intercropping of canola with legumes within WA broadacre cropping systems
Exploring grower perceptions, barriers to adoption, and the productivity and profitability of intercropping through field trials and co-designed activities with grower groups across the Wheatbelt.
Lead: University of Western Australia (UWA)
Funder: SW WA Hub through DAFF – Future Drought Fund, WA Agricultural Research Collaboration (WAARC)
Assessing the potential of native Australian legumes as grain crops
Exploring the potential of four legume species native to southwestern Australia as grain crops and pastures.
Lead: Curtin University
Partners: DBCA, University of Western Australia (UWA), Nuts about Natives, WA Agricultural Research Collaboration (WAARC)
Funder: SW WA Hub through DAFF – Future Drought Fund, WA Agricultural Research Collaboration (WAARC)
News
- Media Release, Bursary, Bursary - Curtin - Oscar Jones, Bursary - Murdoch - Georgia Welsh, Bursary - UWA - Montana WB, Bursary - UWA - Whitney Payne
- Article, Bursary, Bursary - UWA - Huyen Pham
- Article, Bursary, Bursary - Curtin - Selassie Ahiakpa
- Article, Bursary, Bursary - UWA - Huyen Pham
- Article, Bursary, Bursary - Curtin - Selassie Ahiakpa
- Media Release, Bursary
Resources
- Podcast
- A Guide to Effective Facilitation (Pork Checkoff)
- Facilitation toolkit: a practical guide for working more effectively with people and groups (Department of Environmental Protection, Water and Rivers Commission and Department of Conservation and Land Management)
- GGA Quick and Easy Extension Guide (Grower Group Alliance)
- Review of evaluation in Agricultural Extension (Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation)
- Selecting methods of agricultural extension to support diverse adoption pathways: a review ad case studies (CSIRO)
- The role of extension in building capacity – what works and why (Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation)
- Understanding and promoting adoption of conservation practices by rural landholders (CSIRO)
- Australasia-Pacific Extension Network