VIC HUB DROUGHT-RESILIENCE SCHOLARSHIP WINNER 2024

Stephanie is one of the five researchers into drought resilience who was awarded the inaugural Vic Hub Drought Resilience Scholarship

Project title: Embracing complex water futures together: critical futures thinking, creative imaginaries and co-production

This workshop-based project is working with north-central Victorian (Goulburn-Broken CMA) land and water managers to better understand how these skills can enhance community resilience in the context of a changing and dynamic climate. The workshops will use an experiential learning approach to build a stronger understanding of opportunities for collective agency to deliver cross agency outcomes for whole of region resilience.

We interviewed Stephanie to gain deeper insights into her research journey and its potential impact on Australian agriculture.

Q: When did you begin your research? When are you anticipating finishing?

A: I began in March 2023 and I hope to be finished by mid 2026.

Q: How will your research help Australian farming and rural & regional communities prepare for drought, and be drought resilient?

A: My research is exploring the role of critical and creative futures thinking in decision making, with a focus on the context of water-related issues in the Murray Darling Basin. My action research project seeks to test processes for enhancing futures-thinking capacities in professionals and community members. I hope that building futures-thinking skills will support resilience, adaptation and transformation in the face of uncertain and extreme water futures. As well as foster new opportunities for organisations and community members to collaborate on complex and contested issues.

Q: What does the Vic Hub scholarship mean for your work?

A: The scholarship has already offered critical support for me to develop resources for the futures thinking workshops I am delivering. It has funded the printing and purchase of tangible and creative materials that support learning within and beyond the workshops. It will also allow me to purchase materials to enhance a participatory exhibition I will be curating for the Shepparton Festival.

Q: What drew you to agriculture?

A: I grew up in suburban Geelong and always had a desire to live more rurally and I loved horses. As an adult I was able to fulfil that dream and for seven years I lived on a small acreage north of Ballarat with my own horse and pony. Managing a small property, connecting with our neighbours and becoming an active committee member for our local Landcare group grew my awareness of the challenges and opportunities of rural living. I also developed a deep connection to the land and local wildlife, plus became much more attuned to changes and threats. For me, the connection to the land and community relationships are special values of rural and regional life. I see opportunities to support and strengthen them, to face the significant challenges ahead and enable more positive, sustainable and just futures for regional Australia.

What’s a highlight for you so far in your project research?

A: The opportunity to step away from professional work and engage in deep thinking and learning has been invaluable. Grappling with complex challenges takes time, and many of us don’t get the chance to step back and take that time. I have also thoroughly enjoyed the process of designing and delivering workshops, with time to review and improve on them as I go. I am excited for the next steps, working with more organisations and communities.