The independent review, commissioned by Dairy Australia and conducted every five years, provides feedback from dairy farmers and industry stakeholders on its performance to support continuous improvement.
Dairy Australia CEO Matt Shaffer said the review provided an important and timely check on performance and expectations.
“The review is clear about where Dairy Australia is performing well and where we need to improve,” Dr Shaffer said.
“We welcome its findings, and we’re committed to making sure farmers can clearly see how their levy is being invested and how it contributes to improved profitability and productivity on farm.”
The review reinforces feedback received during extensive consultation with farmers and industry stakeholders during the development of the Strategic Plan 2030, which was released last week.
It confirms strong performance in governance, compliance, trade and market access, and leadership through the Australian Dairy Sustainability Framework.
It also identifies areas for improvement, including greater clarity on Dairy Australia’s role, stronger engagement with dairy farmers and better visibility of on-farm outcomes.
In response, Dairy Australia will improve how it listens to farmers and ensure consistency of engagement across regions to align work more closely with our partners in the Regional Development Programs.
The organisation will also improve how information is shared, using targeted communication channels and easily accessible digital tools.
Dairy Australia will implement the recommendations alongside its recently released Strategic Plan 2030 and report to dairy farmers on progress.
“Our new Strategic Plan 2030 provides greater clarity on Dairy Australia’s purpose and priorities, as well as a stronger line of sight between investment decisions and outcomes for farmers,” Dr Shaffer said.
“It sets a clear direction for Dairy Australia’s work over the next five years, with a focus on improving farm profitability through productivity, innovation and sustainability, making it easier for farmers to understand what we do, why we do it and how it supports their business.
“That includes clearer explanations of how research, trade, policy and sustainability translate into practical benefits on farm.”
The review comes during a period of leadership transition for Dairy Australia, with the appointment of a new chair and chief executive officer over the past 18 months and changes to the executive leadership team.
“Our leadership team is wholly committed to sharpening our focus, increasing our consistency and ensuring we deliver real and tangible value for farmers, industry and government,” he said.
“Together, this review and our strategic plan provide us with a clear framework for delivering practical outcomes that support dairy farmers now and into the future.”
The Independent Performance Review 2021–2025 and the management response can be viewed on the Dairy Australia website.
