DFES Online-Bushfire-Fundamentals-Course
Bushfire Fundamentals has been developed to support those who undertake duties in supporting Incident Management Teams at bushfires. It is targeted at personnel working at incidents such as utility companies, St John WA, contractors, WA Police and Department of Defence. The course provides an overview of bushfire characteristics and behavior, bushfire safety and survival, the Australasian Inter-Service Incident Management System (AIIMS) and the role of WA fire agencies in bushfire response.
DFES Online-Rural-Fire-Awareness-Training
Rural Fire Awareness is targeted at farmer response brigades and seasonal workers to provide students with a basic awareness of fireground safety, suppression strategies and maintaining their safety when operating on a fireground.
South Regional TAFE Margaret River campus offers a range of short courses including forklift operation, barista, first aid, evaluate wines and AusChem.
Find courses here.
If you wish to discuss any skills / training requirements for your business please contact [email protected]
Further information on what skills / training is already available may be found at this here
Monday 6 May, 5pm to 6.30pm
The SET
Unit 1/25 Burler Dr, Vasse
Sustainability Focused Entrepreneurship
Jay is CEO of Dirty Clean Food, a market leading platform for delicious and ethical food based in Perth. Dirty Clean Food provides a commercial outlet that advances regenerative agriculture in Western Australia, influencing over 25,000 hectares and 30+ family farmers and ethical small food businesses. Dirty Clean Food is a Commonland 4 Returns business, focused on generating social, natural, financial and inspirational returns through landscape restoration.
Jay founded Dirty Clean Food within Wide Open Agriculture in 2019, growing this business from zero to $10 million+ in annualised in turnover in three years, and is currently raising funds for expansion. He also served as CEO of Wide Open Agriculture (ASX: WOA) from December 2022 through March 2023, where he led commercialisation of the Company’s innovative lupin protein business.
He has spent his career building better commercial networks to access quality food from local producers in America and Australia. Prior to starting Dirty Clean food in 2019, Jay held leadership roles in digital businesses in the food and finance industries in New York, most recently running corporate strategy at MaxDelivery and founding MyFreshGrocer, a New York-based online grocery specialising in eco-friendly delivery of local, gourmet and grocery products.
Register here.
Margaret River wineries have curated a great line up of special events for you to enjoy!
Remember to DrinkWise
We recommend that visitors to the region don’t drink wine on an empty stomach, drink plenty of water, use spittoons and if planning to drive, choose a designated driver or take a guided wine tour. Bear in mind that tasting pours are generally 15 millilitres so 6 pours equal one standard drink.
Date: Monday 13 May & Thursday 16 May 2024
Time: 11:30pm – 3:30pm AWST
All vineyards, wineries and wine businesses seeking sustainability certification require an independent audit against the Australian Wine Industry Standards of Sustainable Practice – Viticulture (AWISSP-VIT1) and/or Australian Wine Industry Standards of Sustainable Practice – Winery (AWISSP-WIN1).
Please note: This is a virtual event, held over two half-days.
Zoom links will be provided.
You are required to attend BOTH days.
Register here.
Date: Thursday 16 May
Time: 8.30 am – 12 pm
Venue: SR TAFE Margaret River (Room W10)
Sustainable Kikuyu and Couch Management in Margaret River Vineyards
The Presenters
- Ken Johnston of Sports Turf Technology: The life cycle of Kikuyu and its management/control from a sports turf perspective.
- Kelly Mulville of Paicines Ranch (Central California) and Dr Judi Earl (Holistic Management International): The incorporation of grazing systems for grass and weed management in vineyards.
- Chris Penfold of the AWRI: The use of cover cropping for under vine and mid-row weed management.
- Melissa Brown of GT Viticulture (McLaren Vale): Challenges and learnings during the conversion of conventional vineyards to organic and biodynamic management.
- Charles Merfield of The Future Farming Centre (Canterbury, NZ): The use of electric and mechanical weeders within viticultural systems.
Cost: MRWA Members $35, non-members $70
Register here.
Thursday 23 May, 8.45am – 1.30pm
Juniper Estate
Join agroecologist/viticulturist Dr Mary Retallack, Retallack Viticulture Pty Ltd and Regional On-ground Coordinator, Rebecca Archer who will host a National EcoVineyards ground covers seminar and hydroseeding demonstration.
We are delighted to welcome our special guest presenters:
Anthony Quinlan, Soil Dynamics will discuss cover cropping in southwest vineyards.
Mark Stidwill, PGG Wrightson’s Seeds are a leading supplier of ground cover seed and DuraVeg products (which are used for hydroseeding).
Brayden Hill, GHEMS Revegetation Environmental will demonstrate hydroseeding in the vineyard.
Register here
Tourism Workshops in Busselton 28 & 29 May
Tourism Council WA is offering a range of workshops in Busselton during February and May, providing you with the opportunity for professional development and to ensure you are up to date on the latest trends, research and opportunities for your business.
- Free Publicity for Your Tourism Business (May 28) – learn how to craft a story and get it in front of the right people. The workshop will look at all media channels, including newspaper, TV, radio, websites, blogs and social media platforms. We will also cover the ways to work with Tourism Western Australia to host famils, and how to do it yourself.
- Effective Marketing for Tourism Businesses (May 28) – This workshop is designed to demystify the process and help you develop a marketing plan for your business that will help you understand your target market ensuring no marketing dollar is wasted. The plan will become a framework to follow, mapping out your goals and how you plan to achieve them.
- Your Tourism Business Online: Google, SEO & SEM (May 29) – This workshop can help you understand what makes a good website and give you helpful advice about creating, maintaining, or updating your own. We will help you understand and utilise search engine optimisation, search engine marketing, Google Analytics, organic ways to improve your search engine rankings and how to create really useful reports.
- Understanding Target Markets: Interstate & International (May 29) – This workshop will help you understand key interstate and international markets for your region and how to best reach your audience. It will also cover the latest market insights on interstate and international trends and booking channels that your market already uses. You will learn how to understand booking lead times and travel times and how key distribution partners can help promote your business.
- Sustainability Briefing (May 29) – This free briefing will provide tourism businesses with effective tools to commence and progress their sustainability journey. Briefing attendees will gain an understanding of how they can apply sustainability principles to their tourism business across their cultural, environmental, social and commercial operations.
- Tourism Connect networking (May 29), each Tourism Council WA member receives two complimentary tickets.
Registrations now open! For more information, or to register, click on the links above or visit www.tourismcouncilwa.com.au. Please note, spaces are limited. Tourism Council WA members receive a 50 per cent discount on training workshops.
A Margaret River Wine stall is available each week for up to two MRWA Wine Producer members to:
- Build brand awareness
- Conduct sampling
- Collect sign-ups to database and wine clubs
- Sell wine
The cost is $50+GST for eligible producers who meet this criteria:
- Must have paid Agricultural Produce Commission Fee For Service for Margaret River fruit.
- Must only sell wines labelled Margaret River GI. No other produce/products to be sold.
- Must crush 50 tonnes or less of fruit for own label.
- Stallholder must be the grower, the producer, or employees who are substantially involved in the production process of the wine sold.
- Any persons selling alcohol at the market is required to hold a RSA certificate.
To make a booking contact [email protected] with the date(s) you are interested in and we will confirm the availability.
Download Producer Criteria Guidelines
Testimonials
Victory Point Wine – “What a fabulously organised and welcoming vibe the Margaret River Farmers Market has! Arriving and getting set up was super easy, we had been allocated an incredible corner spot and being able to borrow a marquee from the organisers made it so smooth for us. The other stallholders gave us plenty of tips and help, and the reception from the attendees was engaged and positive. We even sold a bunch of wine! A great way to reach potential customers who are already shopping local. ” Sarah Flynn
Small Things Wine – “We were smashed!! Had we been open for another 30min we would’ve run out of wine!!” Ian Batt
Arlewood – “A great position – north and east facing stall. A wonderful opportunity to re-engage with the Margaret River community, have your brand associated with Margaret River’s regional produce and be on the top of passer’s by minds when visiting their next cellar door. Looking forward to showing off our wines at the stall again in late December.” Paris Hokin
Thursday 30 May 2024, 8 am – 7 pm
Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre
Turning the Dial 2024 is a sustainability-themed event for the food and beverage manufacturing sector. Focused on food waste transformation, sustainable packaging innovation, and the circular economy, Turning the Dial has quickly established itself as the premier annual event for WA food and beverage manufacturers.
Turning the Dial seeks to guide businesses on their journey towards sustainability, while also facilitating invaluable networking opportunities across the supply chain. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in plenary sessions, panel discussions, breakout workshops presented by industry leaders renowned for their expertise in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, as well as in the realms of food waste transformation and sustainable packaging. Learn more.
Registrations for the Margaret River Pavilion at the Good Food & Wine Shows in 2024 are now open, please see the link to register here.
MRWA has not 100% confirmed if we will proceed yet. This will depend on demand.
Pourage in the VIP lounge will be on a first come basis for six (6) wineries only. If you have any questions, please contact Amanda.
Monday 3 June & Thursday 6 June 2024
Time: 11:30am to 3:30pm AWST
All vineyards, wineries and wine businesses seeking sustainability certification require an independent audit against the Australian Wine Industry Standards of Sustainable Practice – Viticulture (AWISSP-VIT1) and/or Australian Wine Industry Standards of Sustainable Practice – Winery (AWISSP-WIN1).
Please note: This is a virtual event, held over two days.
Zoom links will be provided.
You are required to attend BOTH days.
Register here.
Monday 3 – Thursday 6 June, South Australia
This hands-on, intensive four-day course will present the latest techniques and technologies in winemaking and wine production. Over four days, participants will travel in a small group across various South Australian wine regions to visit sites and meet wine, food and industry specialists who are at the cutting-edge of Australian wine production.
The course is aimed at winery owners, winemakers, production managers and engineers with an interest in innovation and technology within and outside the wine sector. Participation is limited to a maximum of 20 attendees to ensure an intensive and interactive learning experience.
Program content includes:
- Demonstrations of technology being used at small, medium and large wineries and production sites
- Structured themed tastings with winemakers
- Recent advances in research
- No- and low- alcohol wine and spirits production
- Winery technology to improve sustainability and energy efficiency
- Automation and sensor technology
- Innovative packaging
Course fees: $4,290 per person, including GST
Course fee includes all expenses for the course duration including three nights’ accommodation, meals, transport and course materials.
Learn more.
Find WA Wines to the World upcoming information sessions and past presentation’s and recordings here.
A healthy soil is vital to ensure both high yields and future high yields, as well as environmental protection – there are no negative consequences on the ecosystem from having a healthy soil! But what IS a healthy soil?
Soil health can be defined as a soil’s ability to function and sustain plants, animals and humans as part of the ecosystem. This definition speaks to the importance of managing soils so they are sustainable for future generations. To do this, we need to remember that soil contains living organisms that, when provided the basic necessities of life – food, shelter, and water, – perform functions required to produce food and fibre.
This workshop aims to give participants an introduction to management practices and tools that work to repair and regenerate our soil ecosystems and build resilience from the ground up.
Session 1: Management practices to improve soil health & microbial diversity
Richard Leask, South Australian Viticulturalist & 2019 Nuffield Scholar
View live recording here.
Download PDF of presentation here.
Session 2: The soil health tool kit
Emeritus Professor Lynn Abbott
Download presentation here.
Find out more about the program and speakers here.
This event has been made possible through a collaboration between Lower Blackwood Catchment Land Conservation District Committee and the Margaret River Wine Association and is supported by Leaskagri, Wine Australia, Soil Dynamics and Grow Safe.
The adoption of organic and sustainable viticultural and winemaking practices is increasing around the world in response to climate change and economic, health and other social concerns of land managers and wine consumers. Organic and sustainable production systems have many similarities, with both aiming to protect and enhance the natural environment and ecological diversity. The two systems have different approaches to achieving those aims. In this webinar, Liz Pitcher will address some of the more common questions about these two production systems.
View webinar here.
Interactive Insights – book now for specialised training
Wine Australia has recently launched its new Interactive Insights portal and we’re offering tailored training on how to access targeted information for your state or region.
If you’re yet to do so, we’d encourage you to register for training here.
The conference will hear from grape and wine producers and leading researchers who will present the latest findings on bushfire preparedness, smoke effects and recovery from fire to ensure that grapegrowers, winemakers and businesses are better prepared, better informed and better equipped to handle the decisions that need to be made before, during and after bushfires.
Listen here.
The Chardonnay clone Gingin was imported into Western Australia in 1957 and has become one of Australia’s oldest recognised Chardonnay clones. While its phenotypic similarity to other Chardonnay clones has been noted, its exact origins remained a mystery. The AWRI has established a robust methodology for Chardonnay clonal identification that harnesses the detailed information provided by whole-genome DNA sequencing. This genomic technology was applied to unravel the history of this important grapevine clone by sequencing samples of Gingin and other clones suspected to be related to Gingin, including Mendoza and OF Chard. The findings shed light on the origins of these Chardonnay clones, while demonstrating the utility of the clonal genetic identification technology.
Watch recording.
Employers of vintage and pruning workers are invited to join Rural Enterprises, the Harvest Trail Services (HTS) Provider for the South West, to an online Information Session on:
- Who are Rural Enterprises?
- What is the Harvest Trail Service (HTS)?
- There is no cost to use the HTS services.
- Overview of the services they provide:
– Planning your workforce and recruitment needs
– Sourcing suitable workers to meet your vineyard labour needs
– Advertising your job vacancies on the Harvest Trail Jobs Board
– Connecting you with eligible workers
- Reliable information about fair, safe, and legal work arrangements and responsibilities of the employer
- Latest Seasonal Worker Trends
- What Seasonal Workers are looking for
- Learnings from Vintage 2021
- How to secure your workforce for the upcoming pruning season
- Q&A
Find Zoom recording here, the link also includes the PowerPoint Presentation and the Harvest Trail Services brochure.
Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code Online Training
This course includes a series of short videos, interspersed with questions, designed to educate and consolidate an alcohol marketer’s understanding of the ABAC system and the high standards for marketing and packaging alcohol in Australia.
Allow about 1 1/4 hours to complete the course.
Complete training here.
Eligible wine businesses can create a listing on the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) at no cost to increase their online exposure. To take advantage of this opportunity, wineries can view the online training videos and see the new wine-related features, developed with funding from the Australian Government’s $50 million Export and Regional Wine Support Package.
Tourism Australia, Ultimate Winery Experiences and Wine Australia jointly present domestic marketing insights for wine and tourism businesses. Tourism Australia’s Robin Mack will discuss the renewed focus, strategy and support in the domestic market. Robin will also be sharing valuable consumer insights from their Consumer Demand Project and detail the tourism distribution ‘journey’.
Sustainable Winegrowing Australia is Australia’s national program for grapegrowers and winemakers to demonstrate and continuously improve their sustainability in the vineyard and winery through the environmental, social and economic aspects of their businesses. This webinar will provide an overview of the program including membership requirements, certification and use of the new Sustainable Winegrowing Australia trust mark.
Watch webinar recording
Join Wine Australia CEO Andreas Clark who will introduce the newly released Wine Australia Strategic Plan 2020–25. This Plan provides a pathway to support profitable, resilient and sustainable winegrape and wine businesses and addresses key issues including growing value, export, wine tourism, innovation, climate change, sustainability and biosecurity. In addition, Andreas will introduce the Annual Operational Plan outlining Wine Australia’s plans for the next 12 months. Also hear from Stu Barclay – Wine Australia’s GM Marketing, Dr Liz Waters – Wine Australia’s GM Research, Development and Adoption and Rachel Triggs – Wine Australia’s General Counsel and GM – Market Access in this webinar which is not to be missed!
Watch recording
9 July 12.30 pm – 1.30 pm
Australia’s climate is variable, and it is changing. Grapegrowers and winemakers in Australia are already adjusting practices in their vineyards and wineries to keep pace. However, to date, many of these changes have been reactive; driven by the changes that are experienced season-to-season.
The new, world-leading resource Australia’s Wine Future: A Climate Atlas will help improve our climate adaptation response, as it provides a range of detailed insights about how the climate is projected to change within each of Australia’s wine regions until 2100.
Presented by Dr Rebecca Harris and Dr Tom Remenyi of the Climate Futures team at the University of Tasmania, this webinar will explore The Climate Atlas and what it shows for Australian wine regions in the Regional Program clusters.
The Climate Atlas combines a series of climate change models to clearly show projected trends in temperature, rainfall, aridity and in their distribution patterns in regions of Australia where grapes are grown.
It will help to explore the regionally specific climate challenges that we will need to manage and includes an indication of which regions around the country are similar now to through to the predicted conditions in 2100, allowing growers and wineries to look to their peers and viticultural experts around the country on how to adapt for the future.
Click here to watch a special report on Landline about The Climate Atlas or here to download the Climate Atlas.
Watch webinar recording here