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IntroductionFrom its inception in early 1996, the RIRDC web site has been developed as a central plank in the Corporation's core activities, particularly as a vehicle for communication and services delivery to stakeholders and clients.
The site is fully compliant with the Privacy Commission's requirements and is designed in full accordance with the WWW Consortium's Accessibility Guidelines. As primary producers are major clients, the site has been designed and developed with the limited Internet access infrastructure in regional areas as a major consideration.
With close to 500 megabytes of information, interactive areas and an e-commerce enabled "eshop", the site is easily one of the largest and most comprehensive among the comparable research agencies sites. It is a popular site with "hits" increasing and doubling almost every 18 months.
In addition to being able to download hundreds of complete research reports (as well as summaries, newsletters, etc), clients are able to get a comprehensive feel for the corporation and its services from the huge amount of constantly updated corporate information ranging from the annual report, annual operational plan, corporate plan, contacts pages., etc.
Research results, the Corporation's core output, are available substantively and abundantly. The full text of nearly 500 research reports are freely downloadable and supplemented by hundreds of summary reports. Clients wanting to purchase bound versions, can order them online through a secure "eshop" at cost-recovery prices. R&D plans for each sub-program keep clients abreast of the direction of research, along with virtual "home pages" for each program area.
A free monthly email newsletter keeps thousands of subscribers aware of the latest research additions and feedback forms available on every page give them the opportunity to interact directly with the Corporation's managers and staff.
Researchers seeking funding from the Corporation are well served on the site. Each year the site carries the full text of the updated "Program Prospectus" with comprehensive information on how to apply for research, postgraduate scholarships and travel grants. The site includes downloadable application forms and interactive feedback forms for direct communication. Print media advertising and promotion in the Corporation's own communications publications, direct researchers to the site.
The site is constantly evolving and the future will see more interactivity, more transactional services and more formal electronic record-keeping and meta tagging procedures.
a. Name of agency: Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation
b. Address: Level 1, AMA House, 42 Macquarie Street
BARTON ACT 2600c. Web site URL: http://www.rirdc.gov.au
d. Contact details of person responsible for the development of this Online Action Plan: Peter Core, Managing Director, phone: 02 6272 4819 email: rirdc@rirdc.gov.au
e. Contact details of person responsible for the implementation of this Online Action Plan: Peter Core, Managing Director, phone: 02 6272 4819 email: rirdc@rirdc.gov.au
f. Date this Plan was completed: 29 August 2000 and updated: 22 March 2001
g. Date by which this Plan will be revised: 29 December 2001
The following table summarises further services the Corporation considers appropriate to provide online.
3. Description of the Corporation
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC) is a statutory Corporation formed in July 1990 under the Primary Industries and Energy Research and Development (PIERD) Act 1989.
It was set up by the Commonwealth Government to work closely with Australian rural industries on the organisation and funding of their R&D needs.
The Corporation has a Board of nine directors and employs 16 Canberra-based staff and eight part-time Canberra and interstate program managers.
WHAT WE DO
The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation is about managing and funding priority research and translating results into practical outcomes for industry development. Put simply, our business is about new products and
services and new and better ways of producing them.
We are achieving this by:
In 1999-2000, we are funding some 600 projects in 20 diverse areas, totalling around $21m. Funds come from Commonwealth appropriations, voluntary industry contributions, industry levies and Commonwealth dollar for dollar matching funds.We invite project applications for research support through advertisements in major newspapers in August each year, and also advertise a small number of post-graduate scholarships around September.
OUR GOALS
RIRDC's key goals are to:
VISION, MISSION AND VALUESOur Vision
RIRDC’s vision is for a more profitable, dynamic and sustainable rural sector.
Our Mission
Our Values
The Corporations's current IT capabilitiesTechnical maintenance of the Corporation's internal IT network is outsourced, with two key staff maintaining the day-to-day running of the system.Future IT challenges and other issuesThe Internet site is hosted by DAFFA and maintained by an outsourced Web Manager. The Corporation has a large site with close to 400 megs of data. Services include access to hundreds of completed research reports (our core activity), interactive feedback forms, corporate information and interactive information on gaining research funding from the Corporation. An e-commerce enabled publications shop allows online purchasing of research reports.
In line with Government requirements, the Corporation will look in the future to expanding online transactions with suppliers and clients and increasing the interactivity of the site overall.
4. Functions and services provided by the Corporation
ii Consultation and policy development = liaison with stakeholders, drafting policy documents, communicating policies, monitoring, preparation of briefings, etc.
iii Grants = the administration of all stages of grants processes.
iv Information collecting and hosting = collecting information from outside the agency, and providing access to this information.
v Information provision = publishing and providing access to information about the agency and its services. ie annual reports, etc.
vi Regulatory = ongoing administration of legislation, etc. (N/A to Corporation)
vii Secretariat = servicing committees, councils or other advisory groups.
5. Services appropriate to provide onlinea) In determining which services should be provided online, the Corporation uses the following criteria:
- The views of client groups.
- The nature of the client groups, including:
- the level of Internet uptake by client group;
- the number of potential users of the client group; and
- the number of transactions the online service could potentially deliver.
- the extent to which online service delivery will make it easier for clients to access the service;
- the extent to which online service delivery will increase the speed at which the service can be provided;
- the extent to which online service delivery will improve internal processes / result in internal efficiencies;
- the ease with which the service can be moved online. and
- the cost of operating the online service in parallel to conventional service delivery mechanisms.
b) Identification
of services appropriate to provide online
| Services appropriate to provide online | Application of criteria to service / why the service is appropriate to provide online |
| Payments to suppliers | Most efficient and systems infrastructure in place |
| Ordering of consumables (e-procurement) | Cost/benefit positive |
6. Enhancements to services already online
*Complexity levels: 1. Static information only; 2. Access to downloadable information (eg. Forms); 3. Data interchange (eg. Transactions, exchange of data, payments, registrations, etc.)
Service already provided online Complexity level* (1,2,3) Description of plans to review and upgrade services 1. Advisory services 3 Accelerate response rates 2. Consultation and policy development 2 Publish online first 3. Information collecting 3 Provide more information, expanded service 4. Information provision 2 Improve user interface 5. E-commerce 3 Improve functionality and download speeds
7. Services inappropriate to provide online
Service inappropriate to provide online Reasons why service is inappropriate to provide online 1. At this stage management of funding rounds in terms of e-applications. Systems infrastructure not available to put in place and very expensive to develop. 8. Implementation strategies and timeframes
Name of service: Payments to suppliers E-procurement Mechanisms to consult with users about the design and operation of the online service Done in-house after consultation with suppliers. Done in-house after consultation with suppliers. Who will be responsible for the development of a detailed project brief, and the development of the online service Finance section Finance section Who will be responsible for the management and ongoing maintenance of the online service Finance section Finance section What are the key steps that need to be taken to provide this service online Consultations with: Bank; ACCPAC Systems contractor; and suppliers. Consultations with suppliers When will this service be provided online Commence by December 2000 - phased introduction. 30/6/01 What is the relative priority of providing this service online in comparison with other services to be provided online 1 2
9. Impediments to the provision of services onlineWhat impediments to the provision of services online is your organisation facing? (These might relate to the specific services to be provided online, the nature of your agency, or be shared by a range of agencies).
For each impediment, list ways in which these could be addressed by your agency. Expand the table below as necessary.
Impediment Strategies to address impediment 1. Capacity of suppliers to accept payment Consultation with suppliers 2. Cost of IT necessary infrastructure Depends on budget priorities
10. Legislative frameworks and implications
There are no impediments to the provision of services online in the legislation establishing the Corporation
11. Evaluation strategies
Service Evaluation method Evaluation date 1. Payment online Online internal monitoring 30 June 2002 2. Ordering online (e-procurement) Consultation with users 30 June 2002
The following table tracks the Corporation's progress in implementing Commonwealth standards and guidelines.
Issue Standard or guideline Implementation requirements Progress towards implementation Information provision Online Information Service Obligations Existing material Fully compliant - the site has nearly 500 megs of information Metadata Australian Government Locator Service Metadata Standard As above Fully compliant Electronic publishing, record-keeping and archiving Guidelines for Commonwealth Information Published in Electronic Formats E-Permanence Standard
As above Fully compliant Accessibility Discrimination Act Advisory Notes and
World Wide Web Access: Disability Web Content Accessibility Guidelines
Existing material
Fully compliant
Authentication Gatekeeper: A Strategy for Public Key Technology use in the Government N/A for now Privacy Guidelines for Federal and ACT Government World Wide Websites Exisiting material Fully Compliant Security Australian Communications Security Instructions - 33 Ongoing Fully compliant
http://www.rirdc.gov.au/actionplan.htmlDate Online Action Plan placed online: 29 September 2000 and last update on 22 March 2001.
 
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Last updated: 22 march 2001
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http://www.rirdc.gov.au/actionplan.html