Wine Australia is building on the results achieved in other agricultural sectors to test a proven peer-to-peer learning model with Australian grapegrowers and winemakers. This is a great opportunity for you to get involved and reap the benefits for your business.
Grower & Winemaker Discussion Groups: What they are and how to get involved
Interested in joining one of Wine Australia’s pilot grapegrower or winemaker discussion groups — or already told us you’d like to be involved?
This information session is an opportunity to learn more about how the groups will work and what taking part would involve.
Wine Australia's National Extension and Adoption manager Libby Tedstone will join pilot manager Beck Burgess who together will step through the model, outline the time and level of commitment, and answer any questions you may have.
We’ve allowed up to an hour for the session, but we’ll wrap it up earlier if everyone feels they have the information they need.
Register and more informationWhat will I get out of Discussion Group membership?
Peer-to-peer learning builds long-lasting support networks and accelerates learning and adoption (by approximately 80%) of practice change aimed at solving your production problems.
We know the concept works because it has been tried and tested with beef producers in New Zealand and northern Australia, where participating producers find the group work so useful that they’re prepared to travel for hours across outback Australia and sleep in a swag to ensure they don’t miss a meeting! Not only has their involvement improved their ability to try new ideas in their business and meet production goals, they enjoy the added benefit of enhanced mental wellbeing and long-lasting friendships.
View a short testimonial video from farmers in New Zealand who are members of a Discussion Group (known in that country as Action Groups). At the end of the New Zealand pilot, two thirds of the groups chose to continue, working on new problems.
What is a Discussion Group and how will this pilot work?
Many brains really do make light work, especially when you’re all working together to focus on solving a shared problem. A Discussion Group uses the demonstrated success of peer-to-peer learning, supported by a skilled facilitator who ensures the group works as effectively as possible. The group meets regularly; as frequently, where and for as long as the group decides. Participants agree on a shared topic (such as increasing drought resilience, increasing market access, reducing water use) and tackle it together — sharing experiences, knowledge and learning. If additional expertise is needed, the facilitator will bring in speakers, consultants, tech suppliers and so on to fill knowledge gaps. Between meetings, everyone works on the problem back in their own business.
In this Wine Australia pilot, each Discussion Group will:
- include members from seven to nine grapegrowing and/or winemaking businesses, ideally two people from each business (to support greater progress back at work)
- be enabled by a trained and supported facilitator chosen by the Group
- be organised by a trained and supported Group Coordinator (one of the group members)
- have access to an operational budget to cover the cost of speakers, bus hire/travel, venue hire, refreshments, etc
- be supplied with professionally produced learning resources, how to guides, etc
- be assisted to benchmark progress against business goals
- be supported for two years.
At the end of the pilot, the group can decide whether to continue.
Two start dates are available: June 2026 or June 2027.
How can I join a Group?
Wine Australia will be piloting ten to 12 Groups over three years. Space is limited so get in quick!
Ideally, participants should be located relatively close to each other or have a common problem to work on — so talk amongst your neighbours and apply en masse to increase your chance of being chosen.
For regionally spread growers, we will pilot a couple of on-line Groups that meet face-to-face less frequently.
Apply below and we will be in touch.
Where can I find out more?
Please email Libby Tedstone on libby.tedstone@wineaustralia.com.