It was great to be back in Alice Springs last week, with the country looking exceptional following recent rain, to deliver the final Business EDGE course under the Financial Literacy and Pastoral Planning Project.
Twenty participants from across the region came together for the course, delivered by Bush Agribusiness and secured by NTCA & KPCA with support from the Northern Hub through the Future Drought Fund. Developed by Meat & Livestock Australia, Business EDGE is a nationally recognised program focused on strengthening financial literacy, risk management and business decision-making in livestock enterprises.
The northern cattle industry continues to demonstrate strong technical capability. Programs like this complement that strength by building confidence in the financial side of the business. The course provides practical tools to better understand business performance, ask the right questions and support more informed decision-making. It also provides an opportunity for participants at different stages of their careers to step back from day-to-day operations and take a broader view of their business.
It was also great to see 2026 Georgina Pastoral Future NTCA participant Tim Weir among the group, alongside a number of engaged participants. Tim and several others spoke with Charles Geary from ABC Country Hour during the week, sharing their perspectives on the course and the value of strengthening business capability across the industry. Their interview featured on the 1 May episode.
The Alice Springs course marks the final Business EDGE delivery within this broader project, which has been rolled out across the Northern Territory and Western Australia in partnership with the Kimberley Pilbara Cattlemen’s Association. The program will continue through 2026 with additional preparation and planning workshops and field days, reinforcing these learnings in a practical, on-ground context.
Initiatives like this reflect a growing focus across the industry on strengthening business fundamentals alongside production, supporting more resilient and adaptable pastoral businesses.
