Co-design of assistance measures for transition

Co-design is a way to tackle complex challenges by involving a wide range of people in creating solutions - especially those most affected by the outcome.

The process brings together people with personal experience of (or connection to) the issue, along with others who can contribute valuable insights and relevant expertise.

By seeking this diversity of stories, views, ideas and advice, the end-result is more likely to be connected to the needs and priorities of businesses, communities and people.

The workshops have provided an open forum to explore the challenges and opportunities presented by the transition process. By engaging directly with those who understand the industry's complexities, participants are empowered to shape the allocation of transition funds in ways that support resilience, innovation, and informed decision-making.

In addition to challenges and opportunities, the workshops helped to co-design ideas to assist industry respond to the phase out. The workshops also sought to identify features of a future thriving sheep and wool industry.

In partnership with peak bodies representing the sheep and farming sectors, the department identified a diverse sample group across the supply chain to participate in the co-design workshops. This approach ensures that perspectives from all parts of the industry—from producers, livestock agents, exporters, shearers and beyond—were heard and valued.

We are unable to make information about names of participants available due to privacy and consent requirements.

A total of 16 co-design workshops were held over February 2025. The first 8 co-design workshops focused on challenges and opportunities to identify transition needs. The remaining 8 focused on ideas to meet those needs through designing possible transition packages.

The department also held sessions with peak bodies and industry advocates to help identify key areas for co-design and recruit the right people to contribute to this genuine co-design process.

In partnership with peak bodies representing the sheep and farming sectors, a diverse sample group were identified from across the supply chain to participate in the co-design workshops. The approach ensured that perspectives from all parts of the industry—from producers, livestock agents, exporters, shearers and beyond—were heard and valued. Co-design works well when diverse and representative participants are engaged.

Co-design sessions were held in Albany, Boyanup, Cranbrook, Darkan, Esperance, Fremantle, Kojonup, Lake Grace, Merredin, Moora, Narrogin, Perth and York. These discussions brought together a diverse range of expertise from industry and community representatives and generated many ideas to enhance confidence and profitability in the industry, including:

• Strengthening Marketability – Improving the value of light lambs through commercially viable confined feeding and feedlots (on-farm, satellite, and near processors) and genetic improvements to produce faster-finishing lambs.
• Increasing competition and demand for wether lambs - Supporting new processing facilities, forward price contracts, rebranding hogget lamb, securing trade with the Middle East and the European Union.
• Securing Logistics and Processing Capacity – Ensuring reliable processing and supply chain operations through accurate demand forecasting, maintaining west-to-east road transport routes, extending the operational months of abattoirs, increasing air freight for chilled meat exports, and competitive port pricing.
• Enhancing Supply Chain Transparency – Leveraging electronic identification (EID) systems to provide growers with feedback on carcase values, integrating forward contracts from abattoirs as a condition of funding, supporting government efforts to establish large offshore markets to facilitate forward contracts with growers, expanding extension services to strengthen collaboration between researchers, grower groups, and producers, and fostering trust across the supply chain.
• Providing a Clear Industry Strategy – Establishing a long-term strategy for the sheep and wool industry in WA, underpinned by sound economic analysis and accurate forecasts of future flock sizes and wool production volumes.
• Strengthening Government-Industry Collaboration – Developing an ongoing mechanism for a more coordinated industry voice in government discussions. This could include a strong focus on highlighting the economic, food security, community, animal welfare, and environmental contributions of WA’s sheep and wool sector.

Discussions also underscored the importance of continued dialogue between industry, government, and regional communities, as well as the need to strengthen public understanding of agriculture’s role in both regional and urban contexts. Participants emphasised that any new programs should build upon, rather than duplicate, existing initiatives across all levels of government.

Based on the key findings and prioritised options identified through the co-design workshops with representatives from the supply chain final programs are being developed by government. Programs are expected to open in the 2025–26 financial year.

No. This is a genuine co-design experience. The government has allocated funding and sought to hear the perspectives of those impacted from all parts of the industry—from producers, livestock agents, exporters, shearers and beyond—on how transition funding can best be allocated to support the industry through the transition.

That is what will be worked through in the co-design workshops. The workshops will provide an open forum to explore the challenges and opportunities presented by the transition process.

Phase out of live sheep exports by sea