Compost Australia Communications  

In order to identify and pursue industry development opportunities (and increase organic recycling) governments and other stakeholders need to be able to work with a well organised central industry body capable of considering issues, making decisions and acting upon those decisions. Developing good governance and communications systems is fundamental to creating and maintaining a strong, representative association (peak body). A strong association provides opportunities to:

• Increase the efficiency of consultation processes; 
• Educate the industry and build a common knowledge base;
• Share information and cooperate to achieve identified outcomes;
• Pool industry resources (including money) to implement shared plans;
• Reduce duplication, particularly between state and local governments;
• Approach federal government for policy and financial support;
• Create links with complimentary associations and their resources; and
• Create links with international industry associations and their resources.

Recycled Organics Western Australia has developed a formal Communications Plan for their working group. The Plan includes a national framework that is applicable to all state working groups (under Compost Australia ). The Plan is an evolving document and will expand to include the communication activities and systems used in other states. It is a structured approach to internal communication (between members) and external communications to our target audience. Crucially, the Plan supports the credibility of Compost Australia as a well coordinated and representative organisation capable of speaking on behalf of the industry.

Key components of the Communications Plan that require national coordination include: