• NGIA Contact Details
• NGIA Board
• NGIA Staff
• Your Peak Industry Body
• Nursery & Garden Industry Strategic Plan 2006-8
• Life is a Garden Consumer Marketing
• Industry Development
• National Environmental Policy Program
• National Training & Recognition
• Certified Nursery Professional
• Yates Nursery & Garden Industry Awards
• NGIA Publications
• NGIA Websites
• NGIA Members

NGIA CONTACT DETAILS

Nursery & Garden Industry Australia
16-18 Cambridge Street
EPPING NSW 2121

PO Box 907
EPPING NSW 1710

Tel: (02) 9876 5200
Members' toll free tel: 1800 252 468
Fax: (02) 9876 6360
Email: info@ngia.com.au

NGIA BOARD

Geoff Richards, (WA) President	Bryan Hillier, (OLD) Vice President	Craig Norman, (SA) Board Member
Mark Geeves, (TAS) Board Member	Fergus Higson, (NT) Board Member	Phil Nagle, (VIC) Board Member
Gary Eyles, (NSW & ACT) Board Member
NGIA STAFF
Robert Prince, Chief Executive Officer	Anthony Kachenko, National Environmental & Technical Policy Manager	Tracey Wigg, National Communications & PR Manager
Fiona Kelly, National Training & Recognition Manager	Jennifer Nesini, Finance Manager	Jacqui Gibbs, Manager – NGIA Events & Industry Development
Sarah McMahon, Publications and Web Coordinator	Katrina Hinwood, Industry Development Coordinator	Kay Reid, Executive Assistant
Susan Pow Training & Recognition Administratorr	Heather Henderson, Receptionist & Administration Coordinatort

YOUR PEAK INDUSTRY BODY

As the peak body for the nursery and garden industry in Australia, Nursery & Garden Industry Australia (NGIA) is responsible for overseeing the national development of our industry. This includes:

• Liaising with the federal government departments and authorities on relevant industry issues;
• Working with Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) to determine industry marketing and research and development (R&D) initiatives as well as levy funding priorities;
• Providing strategic direction and leadership to the industry;
• Ensuring communication of relevant industry information; and
• Working with the state and territory Nursery & Garden Industries (NGIs) to ensure unity, strength and synergy.

NGIA and the state and territory NGIs represent all sectors of the industry including producers, wholesalers, retailers, allied traders and consultants. By joining your state or territory NGI, you will receive automatic membership of NGIA along with other benefits.

A new nursery and garden industry strategic plan was adopted by the national and state associations in December 2005 as the blueprint for the objectives and strategies of the industry for the next three years.

Nursery & Garden Industry Australia are taking the lead in implementing the initiatives of the Strategic Plan 2006-8 and helping members fulfil the revised industry vision.

The six objectives of the Nursery & Garden Industry Strategic Plan 2006-8 are:

1. To achieve business sustainability by facilitating a change in business culture and improved business practice
2. To promote plants, gardens and landscapes to consumers
3. To have a strong unified industry with one voice and identity
4. To influence the opinion and policies of governments and key external bodies for the benefit of our industry
5. To position our industry as the community’s leader on relevant environmental issues
6. To ensure the industry has the resources and structures needed to implement its vision.

For more information or to order a copy of the Strategic Plan 2006-8 contact Heather Henderson at NGIA on ph: 02 9876 5200 or via email.

	Click the icon below to download the Nursery & Garden Industry Strategic Plan 2006-8 or right click and choose 'Save target as..' to download.
		Nursery & Garden Industry Strategic Plan 2006-8 (152 kb)

The nursery and garden industry launched the Life is a garden consumer marketing campaign in Spring 2006, targeting women 25 to 49 years in the lifestyle sector.

Highlighting gardening as a great way to make the most of any outdoor space, the campaign encourages consumers to purchase plants and participate in gardening. Until 2007, it has encompassed the launch of the consumer website www.lifeisagarden.com.au, print advertising, national PR activities, in-store promotions and eye-catching truck signage.

Consumer advertising

Research conducted in 2006 found that consumer advertising to promote gardens and gardening had to be young and exuberant; hip, trendy and inspiring, stylish, with a range of ‘looks’ and involve new ideas, plants and colours. The Life is a garden campaign launched a series of magazine advertisements in Spring 2006. These funky new ads were featured in major lifestyle magazines around Australia including Women’s Day and New Idea. The second phase of the campaign will focus on event based advertising to encourage a stronger call to purchase.

Public relations

A national PR campaign was launched in July 2006 to reinforce and boost the Spring advertising campaign. Traditionally, the industry has focused its communications on the gardening media. Identifying the need to speak to a wider audience, the current campaign targets lifestyle and general media, emphasising the significance of gardens to the Australian lifestyle.

The campaign will continue to work with lifestyle media to increase coverage of the benefits of gardens and build recognition of Nursery & Garden Industry Australia as the peak body and industry expert.

Industry Adoption

The Life is a garden campaign has been well supported by members of the nursery and garden industry, who were offered access to:

• All print creative (including billboards and posters)
• 15- and 30-second television commercials, and
• A series of radio advertisements.

To date, industry initiatives have ranged from TV and radio commercials to competitions, giant roadside posters, catalogue covers, truck sides and in-store point-of-sale material. To find out more about the material available for industry use, contact your State or Territory NGI Association.

For more information about the Life is a Garden campaign click here

Our Environment, Your Backyard

Recognising the importance of environmental issues and how they impact on consumers’ responses to their gardens, the industry has launched Our Environment, Your Backyard under the brand Life is a garden. The primary aim is to drive the key message that the best place to start looking after the environment is your own backyard.

Our Environment, Your Backyard brings existing programs such as Wise About Water and Flora For Fauna under an environmental marketing umbrella with new initiatives such as World Environment Day and Grow Me Instead.

	The industry continues to lead the way in providing high quality accreditation programs through the Nursery Industry Accreditation Scheme Australia (NIASA) for production nurseries and growing media suppliers and the Australian Garden Centre Accreditation Scheme (AGCAS) for retail garden centres. These schemes help to lift the professionalism of the industry by enabling businesses to continually improve and strive for best practice, to benchmark their performance and make quality and efficiency gains.
	For more information on accreditation programs in your industry contact your State or Territory NGI Association. The development officer network provides assistance to businesses implementing the two accreditation schemes. State Industry Development Officers (IDOs) also contribute valuable expertise to support national policy development and project implementation.
	With access to resources and programs that demonstrate best practice and/or include marketing and promotional tools, the development officers are the first place to go for managers/owners seeking advice tailored to the needs of their business. Refer to the State and Territory 'Your Associations' pages on this website for contact details.

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY PROGRAM

This builds on the important work by the industry over the past twelve months in the areas of Water and Invasive Plants and will include a range of ‘new’ environmental issues such as the use and management of chemicals by the industry (and its customers) and better identifying and managing industry waste.

The new portfolio also includes other important existing technical and environmental issues such as Biosecurity, Quarantine requirements, Pest and Disease management, and the delivery of Environmental Management Systems (EMS) for both production and retail businesses. NGIA will be assisted in all these areas by the State Industry Development Officer network.

Through our work in the Environmental Policy area, NGIA will aim to position the industry as a responsible and proactive environmental steward with a commitment to the development and adoption of best management practice to address key environmental and technical issues. We will also work to promote the industry as the ‘experts’ on environmentally responsible gardening techniques and to provide leadership to the consumer on how to care for and contribute to their local environment while enjoying their garden.

Workshops, resources and support materials are available to any members seeking to expand their knowledge and deepen their understanding of the environmental issues affecting their business.

Water & Invasive Plants

Since the development of the National Water Policy and Invasive Plant Policy Position, the key strategies through which NGIA has sought to strengthen the industry’s position in these important areas have included:

• Engaging with relevant policy makers, government and community groups
• Liaising with key businesses and organisations within the environmental horticultural markets
• Establishing linkages with leading researchers in the field and undertaking independent research projects

Environmental Management System

EcoHort, our industry-specific environmental management system, provides businesses with the tools to ensure they comply with the diverse range of environmental legislation applicable. The program is a starting point to ensure the industry is focusing on issues such as efficient water use, effective nutrient management, onsite pesticide management and efficient energy control and use.

Biosecurity

As a signatory to the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed, our Industry is at the forefront of developments in biosecurity. This agreement with 35 other horticultural industries and Federal and State Governments will ensure that in the event of a major pest or disease incursion in Australia, the nursery and garden industry will be actively involved in any plans to eradicate or control the pest.

Climate Change

Plants have a key part to play in addressing the global issue of climate change. The challenge for our industry is to raise awareness of the importance of plants and their positive contribution to the environment.

The National Training Plan aims to ensure that future activities remain cost-effective and deliver the learning outcomes the industry requires to prosper in a competitive environment. Key elements of the Plan, which has been designed to complement the objectives of the NGI Strategic Plan 2006-08 and the NGIA Business Plan, include:

1. Promotion of skills development as an integral part of any successful business
2. Participation and representation at Skill Councils/State Training Authorities
3. Establishing and maintaining relationships with external training providers, and
4. Establishing and maintaining relationships with students and workshop participants.

The National Skills Study conducted in 2005-06 identified the industry’s top training priorities both now and for the future. The development of future skills development programs will reflect these findings.

Details of the National Training and Recognition program can be found at www.ngia.com.au/training.

The Certified Nursery Professional (CNP) program is the industry’s professional recognition scheme for individuals. Acknowledging members for their skill and expertise, the program showcases the expertise of CNPs to a public audience, simultaneously raising the image and profile of CNPs, the businesses for which they work and the nursery & garden industry as a whole.

CNP provides benefits such as:

• Recognition of knowledge acquired through ongoing learning
• Greater access to resources and networking opportunities
• Promotional discounts, and
• A framework to enhance professional development.

By encouraging staff to participate in the Certified Nursery Professional program, businesses demonstrate their commitment to staff development and reap the benefits of a more knowledgeable, enthusiastic and loyal team.

If you would like more information on the Certified Nursery Professional program please refer to our website www.ngia.com.au/cnp or contact your state association or the CNP Coordinator, on (02) 9876 5200 or email: cnp@ngia.com.au.

The Awards recognise outstanding businesses in the nursery & garden industry and promote the best of our industry to the community. Winning an award or even becoming a finalist at either the state or national level is a very highly regarded achievement. The awards encourage businesses across the industry to strive for ongoing improvement.

Some of the highlights of the Yates Nursery & Garden Industry Awards include:

• A secondary nomination process – you can nominate a business or individual you think worthy of winning an award. Get your nomination form from the 2008 Entry Kit found on the Awards website.



• The new Export Award – This award encourages participation by the industry's entrepreneurs and highlights the amazing success of some of our industry businesses in exporting desirable Australian ideas and products to the rest of the world.



• The return of 11 national categories including Best Small, Medium and Large Garden Centre and Production Nursery, NGI Environmental Award, NGI Training Award, NGI Supplier Award NGI Community Award and the National Young Leader Award.

For more information on the Nursery & Garden Industry Awards, contact Industry Development and Event Coordinator Jacqui Gibbs on (02) 9876 5200 or visit the Awards website.

Comprising a range of publications, our communications are designed to deliver comprehensive and timely information in a format that suits you. These publications are supported by the nursery industry levy, which means any business in the Australian nursery and garden industry is eligible to subscribe free of charge.

NGIA Clippings is a monthly newsletter featuring stories and case studies relevant to the industry and its national strategic plan. Presented in a clear and easy to read format, Clippings brings you the latest news and updates on your levy-funded marketing and research & development programs.

NGIA Papers aim to develop your knowledge and expertise in areas relevant to your work in the nursery and garden industry. Distributed monthly and colour-coded for easy reference, the papers explore a wide variety of business, technical and marketing issues. Each paper recommends strategies that can be implemented immediately in your business.

E-CommPost is a fortnightly electronic communications post designed to deliver the latest news from Australia’s nursery and garden industry. Delivered straight to your inbox, E-CommPost also brings you free electronic copies of NGIA Clippings and Nursery Papers in every second edition.

Issue Alerts deliver vital information which you need to know without delay, such as pest and disease incursions, new tax rulings or consumer media issues.

Subscribe online via the NGI website www.ngia.com.au. Alternatively, contact Heather Henderson at NGIA on ph: 02 9876 5200, via email info@ngia.com.au.

Look for this symbol when you’re reading Clippings. It tells you that the project, activity or event you’re reading about is funded by your Nursery Industry Levy dollar.

To receive the NGIA communications in the way that suits you, contact Heather Henderson at NGIA on ph: 02 9876 5200, via email info@ngia.com.au or subscribe online at www.ngia.com.au and click on ‘Keep Me Informed”.

Your industry website www.ngia.com.au

Modern, comprehensive, easy to navigate and packed with relevant industry information, the Nursery & Garden Industry (NGI) website contains a wealth of resources to benefit your business.

Key areas covered include:

• Marketing and environmental promotions such as Life is a garden, Flora for Fauna and Wise about Water
• Training & Recognition - available and upcoming workshops and courses, the latest on Certified Nursery Professional
• Accreditation for garden centres, production nurseries and growing media suppliers
• Publications and resources – the site contains a fully searchable database of all Clippings and Nursery Papers published since 1996
• Industry and market statistics at a glance
• State-specific information and simple registration for new members
• Clear redirection of the gardening public to sites with consumer information

So if you’re looking for information on the nursery and garden industry and how NGIA’s activities can help boost your business, visit www.ngia.com.au.

Life is a garden consumer website

Launched in July 2006, www.lifeisagarden.com.au is one of the primary vehicles through which the promotion of gardens and gardening through the national advertising and PR campaigns is reinforced to the Australian public.

Directing users to their local accredited garden centre for inspiration, advice and products, this colourful new site contains a wealth of information for both new and dedicated gardeners, including:

• The benefits of gardens and gardening
• The latest garden trends
• Quick and easy worksheets and project recipes
• Information about NGIA’s consumer-oriented programs such as Our Environment, Your Backyard, Flora for Fauna, Wise about Water and KidsGrow
• A search engine listing all accredited and member garden centres.

Consumers are also able to purchase NGI Gift Cards online.

The site is frequently updated to keep pace with developments in the industry’s consumer marketing strategy and stimulate a demanding and savvy consumer audience.

Irene Bowden - New World Flora Pty Ltd, Manjimup, WA 6258
Edward Bunker - Redlands Nursery Pty Ltd, Redland Bay, QLD 4165
Eric Carter - c/- Carter's Broadview Nursery, Broadview, SA 5083
David Cliffe - Narromine Transplants, Narromine, NSW 2821
David H Daly - Conifer Gardens Nursery, The Patch, VIC 3792
George Gay - Gosnells, WA 6110
Ralph Groves - Grange Growing Solutions, Baulkham Hills, NSW 1755
David Mathews -
Geoff Richards - Richgro Garden Products, Canning Vale, WA 6155
Ben Swane - Dural, NSW 2158
Max Warner - Burwood, VIC 3125

Overseas Members
Island Landscape & Nursery Pty Ltd

Albert Geow
Plot 13 Joan Road
Singapore 290000
Tel: +65 6254 9867
Fax: +65 6253 8989