In this major program, Harris Park Group was asked to respond to an industry need. The aim was to increase the understanding of people resource management on dairy farms. Harris Park Group has devised and delivered targeted projects and communication strategies to achieve this goal.

 People are central to the success and growth of dairy farm businesses.

The People in Dairy is a national program that helps dairy farmers attract, retain and develop the people they need to achieve the strategic visions of their businesses.

Harris Park Group has been involved in this program since its inception. After working with the client (Dairy Australia) to identify the industry needs and key areas for action, Harris Park Group developed the program’s flagship product - The People in Dairy On-Line Resource Kit.

This site contains a comprehensive library of information, tools and resources. Its development included input from farmers, advisers and a wide range of specialists in areas such as occupational health and safety, human resources, industrial relations, education and training, business management and research. Harris Park Group conceptualised, wrote and continues to manage this award-winning interactive site, which has set a new benchmark for human resources information and communication within the dairy industry.

A recent key addition to this site is the fully updated Engagement and Reward module which provides direction to farmers about their workplace obligations under the new Australian industrial relations laws that came into effect on January 1, 2010.

In addition, Harris Park Group has been involved in:

• Building the advisory capacity to provide farmers with a ready source of high quality advice around people issues. This has been achieved through the design and delivery of workshops, written material, training sessions and the development of a specialised Diploma in Business (Human Resources- Dairy)
• Helping dairy farm workplaces to build a reputation that attracts suitably skilled people to the industry
• Providing stakeholders with planning, administrative and reporting information as required
• Providing expertise and support to other Dairy Australia projects that have a people focus

Part of the brief of The People in Dairy program, as requested by Dairy Australia, has been the development of appropriately targeted smaller projects that can address regional differences in farm systems, communities, advisers and legislation. Such collaborative initiatives include:

• Dairy Sage, a Gardiner funded mentoring program for people in the dairy industry
• People GPS, a four day course to help farmers manage people issues on their own farm and how to use The People in Dairy online resources to put their plan into action
• Cows Create Careers, a program to promote the dairy industry within schools as offering rewarding careers