In late March 2025, Soil Science Australia (SSA) led the Smart soils Community of Practice (CoP) on a trip to the top of Australia. Starting in Canberra the tour visited various properties on the Monaro and southern NSW before heading up into the Snowies.
The Smart Soils CoP is a group of extension-focused soil scientists from across Australia who meet regularly to collaborate and share knowledge. The CoP, part of our Smart Soils project, is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program under the Natural Heritage Trust. Membership consists of the Regional Soil Coordinators from around Australia, a soil scientist from TERN (Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Network) and the Soil CRC Knowledge Broker.
Everyone in the group agreed these activities are one of the most valuable parts of being involved in the CoP. Meeting face to face not only allows the members to develop professional relationships with soil experts around Australia but also encourages valuable incidental conversations where soils activities going on around the country and specialist expertise can be discovered. The recent trip was also a great way for the newest Regional Soil Coordinators, Emily Hinds from the Northern Hub and Bridget Watkins representing southern Western Australia, to meet the rest of the Smart Soils CoP members.
Discovery and knowledge network building are the foundations of the Smart Soils project. Building lasting networks and linking expertise with on-the–ground practice is an important piece necessary for the delivery of the National Soil Action Plan, particularly priority three. The shortage of technical expertise and disconnection are major threats facing Australian soils, as identified through the Regional Soils Coordinators gap analyses.
Experts from NSW state government, Jo Powells from NSW Local Land Services and Lachy Ingram representing the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), showed the group around the Murrumbidgee catchment, outlining various soil issues and local solutions. The group was also lucky enough to have Leah Moor from ANU explain the geological history of the region to give context to the soils we saw and their unique management requirements, for example, how to maintain groundcover in the Monaro, reduce the impact of weeds and stabilise erosion–prone sites.
Susan Orgill and Jess Rigg also shared their extensive knowledge of soil carbon and soil microbiology for successful legume cultivation.
The group was also treated to some ‘speccy’ soil profiles thanks to on–farm silage pits. A great way to see rock weathering and soil formation in action on the basalt flows of the Monaro.
Further up the hill, Mitch Tulau and Sally Mcinnes-Clark, both from NSW DPIRD, explained their soil mapping work in Australia’s most popular national park. Along with Leah they outlined the importance in protecting the special alpine soils for water movement and storage across the whole catchment
Events such as these support soil science practitioners as they are able to meet face–to–face and network, developing and consolidating vital linkages for the ongoing attention and understanding of all our soils and landscapes into the future.
To find your regional soil coordinator take a look at the Smart Soils webpages.
This program is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program under the Natural Heritage Trust and Soil Science Australia.
