A national forum, Rural Landscape Change: emerging challenges for extension, convened by the
Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Victoria, took place on 20–21 July 2005 at Rutherglen in
north-east Victoria. The forum was funded through the DPI Victoria and the Cooperative Venture for
Capacity Building (CVCB).
The forum was designed to capture new knowledge as part of the project and to explore engagement
strategies and capacity building opportunities for the small lifestyle farm sector. A number of key
speakers from a variety of agencies shared their experiences and perspectives on demographic change
in regional Victoria, the organisation of government on service delivery, extension models and
principles, and the social aspects of changing rural communities.