In this project, supported by Dairy Australia, Harris Park Group responded to an industry need. We provided the initial design and conceptual scoping, management of rural and regional industry stakeholders (from Dairy Australia to farmers, vets and a range of advisors), the production of acclaimed written materials, the delivery of farmer and advisor training courses, as well as the innovative Countdown Mastitis Focus web tool.

Countdown Downunder was the first dairy industry project to recognise that the key to effective change on farm was to ensure that everyone who discussed mastitis management with dairy farmers gave consistent recommendations and spoke the same language. Prior to this, farmers reported that the people advising them often gave confusing and inconsistent advice – they didn’t work as a team to solve the farm problem.

Countdown broke new ground in three ways.

• We negotiated with ‘mastitis experts’ to develop a set of agreed guidelines for on-farm practices related to mastitis management. Although challenging, this task resulted in an ‘agreed body of knowledge’ – a publication (Countdown Downunder Farm Guidelines) which was recognised by everyone in the industry as the best management practices for Australian dairy farms. The Farm Guidelines became a best seller (11,000 copies sold).
• We provided customised training for a wide variety of people who dairy farmers went to for advice (over 500 advisers have now completed the four day Countdown Adviser Short Course). Likewise a course specifically designed for dairy farmers was written, developed and coordinated. Over 1900 farmers completed the 6 day course.
•  Through our rigorous evaluation, reflection and communication of what happened during the Countdown project, the team has captured a rich experience which continues to influence many subsequent extension projects.