Putting extension theories into practice
Build confidence applying theory in ways that genuinely support change on the ground. In this half-day online workshop, we’ll explore the theory and practical principles that underpin effective extension, with a strong focus on translating concepts into usable, real-world approaches. You’ll work with well-established frameworks—including Diffusion of Innovation, Community-Based Social Marketing, and Theory of Change—to strengthen how you design, explain, and deliver extension activities that lead to meaningful outcomes.
Is this course for you?
- You’ve encountered extension and behaviour-change theories but struggle to apply them in day-to-day practice.
- You’re expected to justify your extension approach to colleagues, funders, or partners and want clearer theoretical grounding.
- You want practical ways to link activities to outcomes, rather than relying on intuition or habit.
Why enrol?
- Demystify key extension and behaviour-change theories and understand when they are most useful.
- Strengthen your ability to design extension activities that are logically connected to change.
- Build confidence explaining your extension approach using credible, evidence-informed frameworks.
What you'll achieve
Through this half-day, highly interactive workshop, you’ll explore topics like:
- Understand core extension theories – gain a clear overview of Diffusion of Innovation, Community-Based Social Marketing, and Theory of Change.
- Know when and how to use theory – identify which theories are helpful for different extension challenges and contexts.
- Apply Diffusion of Innovation in practice – design extension activities that account for different adopter groups and decision processes.
- Use Community-Based Social Marketing principles – address barriers and motivators influencing practice change.
- Develop and use a Theory of Change – link activities to short- and long-term outcomes in a clear, defensible way.
By the end of this course, you’ll be better equipped to put extension theory into practice—designing activities that are more intentional, explainable, and likely to support change.
Submit your details to secure your place.
Who you will learn from
Dr John James is deeply passionate about enabling change and fostering innovation. With a wealth of experience, he specialises in helping organisations enhance the skills and capabilities of their teams in all aspects of extension and adoption. As an Adjunct Associate Professor with The University of Queensland, John brings a practical, hands-on approach to his work, bridging the gap between theory and real-world application. John is a keen supporter of the Australasia-Pacific Extension Network (APEN), having been a past President, the convenor for two international conferences, and is an APEN Life Member.
Denise Bewsell is passionate about helping people enable change and strengthen how they work with others. With a background in Agricultural Science and a Masters exploring how people respond to information, she combines research insight with real-world experience. As a Principal at Scarlatti, Denise leads the extension programme design area and has worked extensively across agriculture supporting facilitators and researchers. An APEN Life Member and associate editor of its journal, she’s excited to help others build capability through Enablers of Change.
Course details
- Format: Three-hour online workshop.
- Date: TBA
- Time: TBA
- Investment: The price for this course is A$350 ex GST.
- Register your interest: Simply add your details to this form and we’ll let you know when the course is next offered.
Turn theory into practical extension design
Move beyond abstract models to theory-informed extension that is purposeful and credible. Enrol to strengthen how you apply theory to design, justify, and deliver extension that supports real-world change.
Secure your spot now
FAQs
What is the Putting extension theories into practice course about?
This half-day online workshop focuses on translating key extension and behaviour-change theories into practical application. It covers Diffusion of Innovation, Community-Based Social Marketing, and Theory of Change, with a strong emphasis on how to use these frameworks in real extension contexts.
Do I need a strong background in theory to attend?
No. This course is designed to be the first step in better understanding these theories. We explain the theories clearly and focus on practical application rather than academic detail.
Is it only for people in Australia?
No, this course is open to anyone, no matter their location or nationality. While we expect most participants will be located across Australia, we’re looking forward to people from New Zealand and other countries joining in. We’ve scheduled the live sessions at 11:30 am AEDT to accommodate as many time zones as possible.
Can I register multiple people from my organisation at once?
Yes. Simply list all the participants’ names and email addresses in the appropriate fields of the registration form, and then provide the name and email address of the person making the booking in the final comments field, and the tax invoice will be sent to them.
Are places limited?
Yes. To make the workshop engaging and worthwhile, participant numbers are capped. This ensures plenty of opportunity for discussion and interaction with the trainers.
How is the workshop delivered?
The session is delivered live via Zoom. You’ll take part in interactive discussions and activities, with practical examples you can apply immediately in your work.
Do I need any special software or account?
No special software or account is required. You’ll receive a Zoom link by email before the workshop—just click to join. Please check beforehand that you have the latest version of Zoom installed on your computer.
What is the cost?
The registration fee is A$350 ex GST.
How can I pay?
We prefer payment by bank transfer, as this avoids processing costs. However, for your convenience, you can also pay by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, or American Express) through our secure Stripe payment gateway.
Are there any extra fees?
Only when paying by credit card, as Stripe charges a small processing fee that is automatically added to your total. For Australian cards, this is 1.7% + A$0.30 (inc GST). For international cards, this is 3.5% + A$0.30 (ex GST). These charges are passed on at cost so that we receive the full workshop or course amount. The total payable is displayed clearly before you confirm payment.
Why do you pass on Stripe fees?
As a small business, we prefer to keep our standard prices as low as possible and only recover processing costs from those choosing to pay by card. Paying by bank transfer avoids these fees entirely.
Is my payment secure?
Yes. All card payments are encrypted and processed securely by Stripe, a PCI-compliant global payment provider. We do not store or have access to your credit-card details.
How do I register?
Click the link below to secure your spot.
What if I can’t attend at that date and time?
If the scheduled date for this course doesn’t suit you, simply add your details to this form and we’ll let you know when the course is next offered.
Are refunds available?
We offer refunds up to seven days before the course date; after that point, refunds aren’t available. If something comes up within those final seven days, another person from your organisation is welcome to attend in your place at no additional cost. To arrange this, just email us the full name, role, and contact details of the substitute attendee and we’ll update the registration.
If you have any other questions, feel free to email us: info@enablersofchange.com.au. We’re here to help!