National Environmental Research Program

Communications Strategy

Contents

  1. Purpose and Context
  2. Program Information
  3. NERP Communications Objectives
  4. Internet Presence
  5. Hub Science Communication Plans
  6. Building relationships between Researchers and End-Users
  7. Attachments

APublications and Media Protocol

BPublication Cover Sheet

CData and Information Management Protocol (in prep)

DConferences and Events Protocol

ENERP Styleguide

FHub Science Communication Plan Template

Purpose and Context

This Strategy is a program-level framework to support the Australian Government’s National Environmental Research Program (NERP). Communication is a major focus of the NERP and heavily referenced in the NERP Program Guidelines. This Strategy will help NERP Hubs and stakeholder agencies to meet the NERP’s objectives, and to maximise the Australian Government and co-investors’ returns on their environmental research investment. This will be addressed through facilitating strong links between those generating research products and the end users of those products; as well as increasing the profile of the NERP brand to promote its reliability and usefulness to government and broader users.

The Communications Strategyis designed to provide a consistent communications platform for all Hubs within the NERP. It includes supporting attachments which detail activities and processes that will support different aspects of NERP communication. This Strategy and its attachments will be updated from time to time as the NERP progressesand new communication ideas are taken on board[1].

Each NERP Hub will have a Steering Committee which will be responsible for the overall governance of that Hub. The NERP Communications Strategy and NERP Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy will guide Hubs in developing their Multi-Year Research Plans (MYRPs) and Annual Work Plans (AWPs). Each NERP Hub will develop a Hub-specific Science Communication Plan based on the guidance provided by this Strategy.

Program Information

The NERPis an applied research program designed to continue the legacy of the Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities (CERF) Program. The Australian Government will invest around $20 million per annum in the NERP, which will be administered by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaCor the department). NERP research will specifically fulfil the needs of environmental decision makers and target Australian Government environmental agencies as primary end-users. The NERP will improve Australia’s capacity to understand and respond to priority environmental concernsand to support the development, implementation and evaluation of public policy for environmental sustainability.

The NERP objectives are directed to funding world-class research within Australian institutions to improve our capacity to understand, manage and conserve Australia’s unique biodiversity and ecosystems through the generation of world-class research and its delivery to Australian environmental decision makers and other stakeholders. In particular, the NERP will fund research that supports the development, implementation and evaluation of public policy for environmental sustainability.

A key measure of the success of the NERP will be the extent to which its research outputs are used by policy makers and on-ground environmental managers in Australia. This will hinge on three key factors: the ability of environmental decision makers to articulate their needs to researchers; the quality and usefulness of the research outputs; and how well they are communicated to their intended end-users.

In the selection process for NERP research projects and Hubs, the extent to which proponents had considered end-user engagement and communication needs, and built them into the design of their projects, was an important selection criterion. All NERP Hubs will engage professional communicators and/or Knowledge Brokers[2] and produce individual Science Communication Plans. DSEWPaC will nominate Hub Liaison Officers to work with Hub communications personnel to ensure that research products are communicated to appropriate line areas within the environment portfolio[3] and that a conduit exists to ensure that research is relevant and tailored to the needs of environmental decision makers.

The objectives of this CommunicationsStrategy are to:

  1. Maximise the return on investment in NERP by ensuring that NERP program level outputs are designed around the needs of end-users and are well communicated to and accessible to end-users;
  2. Provide guidance to each NERP Hub to develop their own Science Communication Plan in line with this overarching Strategy and the Program Guidelines;
  3. Ensure that DSEWPaC and other government agencies have a clear understanding of the knowledge, tools, data and products being generated by NERP that are relevant to their programs and policies, and that there are excellent communication linkages between different components of NERP and their respective policy and management areas in the environment portfolio of the Australian Government;
  4. Highlight the value being delivered for the Australian Government and the environment portfolio through its investment in NERP;
  5. Minimise unnecessary duplication and capture potential synergies across the communication activities of NERP Hubs and other environmental research investments;
  6. Ensure that NERP Hubs are meeting their communication commitments tailored to meet specific needs; and
  7. Plan for data custodianship and other legacy issues so that NERP outputs are well known and accessible long after the initial funding period.

This Strategy operates at the program level (across all Hubs) and will assist Hubs with knowledge brokering and communication with government agencies as key end-users. The Scientific Research and Information Section(SRIS) within DSEWPaC is the overall coordination point and adds value by facilitating communication and engagement between researchers and some end-users, particularly those in DSEWPaC and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA); and the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (the Minister). DSEWPaC public affairs personnel will also be available to aid in NERP communications activities. SRIS staff will build close relationships with Hub Communications staff (including Knowledge Brokers) to facilitate strong links between Hub researchers and their key clients in the Australian Government. More broadly, SRIS staff will assist with information dissemination and building awareness of information gaps that new research might fill. In consultation with DSEWPaC public affairs staff, SRIS staff will also evaluate media opportunities and develop cross-program communication activities.

Internet Presence

To aid in promoting the program and collaboration across NERP Hubs, the department’s NERP webpage will link to individual Hub websites. Hubs will have autonomy over their own web sites (e.g. and be free to control the material they publish, in accordance with this Strategy and its attachments (e.g. Publications and Media Protocol , Styleguide, etc).

Hub Science Communication Plans

The NERP’s success will be highly dependent on the knowledge sharing between researchers and end-users. To achieve this, each Hub will be required to develop and implement their ownScience Communication Plan in line with this Strategy.

Each Hub’s Science Communication Plan will contribute to building relationships and networks for developing emerging research, in order to have an impact on policy and management (particularly in relation to the department and relevant portfolio agencies). The Plan must address:

-Communications staff and resources, including:

  • Hub knowledge brokers, communications staff and available resources
  • engagement with DSEWPaC Hub Liaison Officers and environment portfolio line areas (particularly how to best link with portfolioofficers to communicate research findings and feed policy needs back to researchers);

-End-user engagement and understanding their needs, including stakeholder analysis;

-Baseline NERP communication outputs, including:

  • maintenance of the Hub’s internet presence
  • annual reporting requirements
  • targeted synthesis and analysis projects and products, including utilisation of existing research and data sets (within and across Hubs, as well as with other key end-users)
  • prioritisation of key products
  • legacy systems for end-users;

-Environment portfolio-targeted communications, including:

  • research products targeted to line areas within the environment portfolio
  • portfolio workshops/meetings (bringing researchers, policy makers and environmental managers together to facilitateevidence-based recommendations)
  • Ministerial briefings;

-Program-level activities, including:

  • the annual NERP conference
  • facilitating co-learning across research Hubs and key end users
  • contribute to program level information on the internet and physical publications
  • mechanisms to ensure researchers are complementing and maximising messages and projects and not competing with each other; and

-any additional funding agreement requirements associated with communication.

The Scientific Research and Information Section within DSEWPaC will prepare a similar Communication Plan which will outline the activities that the department will undertake to complement and build upon the work of the Hubs. This Plan will be circulated to Hubs and made available on the NERP website to encourage collaboration across the NERP.

The NERP Program Guidelines state that each Hub must set aside at least 10 per cent of its budget for the development of a Science Communication Plan and its implementation. This will fund activities such as:

-targeting products to the needs of Australian government end-users including the Minister and environment portfolio agencies;

-end-user friendly products that make research and data easily accessible;

-the appointment of specialist communication and knowledge brokering staff, and the resourcing of these staff;

-events that bring environmental end-users, particularly the Australian Government, and researchers together on a regular basis (including annual research conferences, seminars and research/policy workshops);

-regional engagement with stakeholders in locations of relevance to the Hub’s research; and

-NERP meetings bringing together two or more Hubs.

Tropical Ecosystems Hub

Note: The role of Hub participants (including the research providers, Administrator, Science Leader and management agencies) will be articulated in the Hub’s Science Communication Plan. The principles outlined in the Publications and Media Protocol are intended to be used to guide the development of the Plan, without constraining Hub participants in undertaking specific communications and knowledge brokering functions stated in the Science Communication Plan approved by the department.

Building Relationships with Researchers and End-users

The communication activities and priorities for this applied research program should be driven by the knowledge needs of the key end-users of the program outputs. In developing Science Communication Plans, the hubs should focus on science communication techniques which assist policy makers make better decisions, particularly the Australian Government.

The Australian Government

The Australian Government is committed to making decisions based on the best available information. The NERP is a major investment for the Australian Government and reflects the need of environmental decision makers (including the Minister) for targeted knowledge products to aid in decision making and planning processes.

In assisting in this ‘best practice’ approach, the research and communications activities of each Hub should be designed to build relationships between research providers and targeted end-users to build both the value of the research and its impact on government decision making. Initially, this relationship will be primarily mediated by Hub Knowledge Brokers and communications staff; and Hub Liaison Officers within the department. It is envisaged that over time, researchers will build direct relationships with relevant line areas across government.

The department is currently investigating strategies to facilitate building links between researchers and end-users (both government and non-government). For example, the department is currently investigating the potential of developing a “researcher placement program”, under which early career researchers are seconded to a line area for a limited period to work on an issue of common interest to the researcher and Australian Government.

State Governments, Industry and Regional Stakeholders

By virtue of this decision making focus the communications strategy will also have utility to other decision makers at a State, local and regional level. Plans should be tailored to address these regional and sectoral interests.

The needs these other stakeholders will vary. Some will hold a keen interest in environmental issues and hence NERP outputs. There are others who may not be as interested, but whose behaviour/practices may still be a target for the program. This narrows the focus for the program to those sectors, industries, communities and individuals who need to be informed by NERP outputs - the end-users.

For some end-users, it is important that they are able to identify particular outputs as being funded by the NERP. For others, the source of the knowledge is not as important as its utility. This is a crucial distinction for a communication strategy.

The distinction between end-users and ‘next users’ is also important. For example, under the CERF Program, the Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility (MTSRF) research identified farming practices reducing run-off to the Great Barrier Reef. This included farmers undertaking those practices. MTSRF researchers did not have a direct relationship with all the relevant farmers, however, and generally worked through intermediaries such as industry bodies, extension services, regional Natural Resource Management (NRM) bodies, landcare groups, local governments and non-government organisations (NGOs) like Greening Australia. These organisations built MTSRF outputs into their own communication with farmers in the target catchments. Such intermediaries are called ‘next users’.

Indigenous engagement

It is expected that all research and communications activities undertaken by NERP Hubs will be conducted in a matter inclusive of and sensitive to Australia’s Indigenous people. For example, researchers should ensure that they gain the permission of traditional owners prior to conducting research on Indigenous lands, and that Indigenous stakeholders are involved in the planning process for research which may have impacts on Indigenous communities. The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) has produced Guidelines for Ethical Research in Indigenous Studies which should be consulted and followed by NERP Hubs.

Review of this Strategy

To ensure the program deliver continuous improvement, the Department may review this strategy periodically. This may be as a result of recommendations of key end-users or changes to the NERP Program or department.

September 2011Page 1 of 6

[1] The latest version may be downloaded from the NERP website (

[2]Knowledge brokering is typically used to refer to processes used by intermediaries (knowledge brokers) in mediating between sources of knowledge (usually science and research) and users of knowledge. “Knowledge brokering is usually applied in an attempt to help knowledge exchange work better for the benefit of all parties” (Campbell, Andrew (2006) The Australian Natural Resource Management Knowledge System, Land & Water Australia). “It involves bringing people together, helping to build links, identifying gaps and needs and sharing ideas. It helps information to be used to solve problems or lead to better ways of doing things. It also includes assisting groups to communicate and understand each others’ abilities and needs, and assists in guiding people to sources of research. This may include summarising and synthesising research and policy into easily understood formats and transforming issues into research questions.” (Knowledge for Regional NRM (2006) Connecting Researchers and Practitioners, Land & Water Australia)

[3]The environment portfolio refers to all Australian Government agencies with direct involvement in protecting Australia’s biodiversity and environment. This primarily includes the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water Population and Communities; and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority; but will include other agencies as nominated by DSEWPaC, such as the Wet Tropics Management Authority and State Government bodies.