GrowConnex: support and extension
Technical support from GrowConnex experts – free for levy-payers
Start small. Get support. Grow with confidence.
Every successful system starts with a conversation – and for many production nurseries, that begins with your local, levy-funded GrowConnex Extension Officer.
Whether you're looking to improve plant health, manage pest risk or find out what Australian Plant Production Standard (APPS) resources are available, your GrowConnex expert is your go-to guide. They know the industry, understand your region and are here to help you take the first step.
This service is funded through the levy, so the support is free to levy-paying nurseries. All you need to do is reach out.
What is GrowConnex?
GrowConnex is the new name for the practical, levy-funded help growers already get through their local Extension Officer. Whether you’re tackling biosecurity, sustainability or trying something new, your Extension Officer is your first point of contact and GrowConnex brings that support together in one clear place.
It's the same people you know and the same support - we've just made the connection clearer.
The national program gives you access to a team of experts with boots on the ground who work directly with production nurseries across the country. Their job? Helping you strengthen your business with practical, plant-focused support.
Why it matters
This project exists to strengthen the nursery industry – not just now, but for the future. It’s about reducing risk, boosting quality, lifting profitability and keeping the sector growing strong.
Want support that actually understands your business? Your local, levy-funded GrowConnex expert is just a call away.
Every nursery’s different, so we tailor our support to what matters most on-site. For one grower it might be improving hygiene or recycling protocols. For another, it’s drainage or irrigation flow. Sometimes it’s just a conversation that gets things moving – and that’s often all it takes to make a real difference.
How GrowConnex connects to best practice and accreditation
Your local expert can point you to all the resources the Australian Plant Production Standard (APPS) provides.
You don’t have to be accredited to benefit. You can start where you are and try a few things out - tweak your irrigation, adjust your processes or evaluate your growing media...
Every step you take – from using a quarantine checklist to improving your crop monitoring – helps strengthen your business.
The network is here to guide you, and APPS resources give you the tools to lift plant quality, reduce risk and build long-term resilience. Whether you're just starting out or already certified, there’s value at every stage.
➡️ Check out the technical library for a taste of what's on offer!
The GIA extension program is funded through the nursery levy to provide hands-on, practical support to production nurseries. It’s designed to lift the whole industry – one site visit, one sticky trap, one phone call at a time.
Whether you need help identifying a pest, fine-tuning your crop monitoring, improving recordkeeping or just want to know you’re on the right track – our Extension Officers are here to help.
To find out more or get started:
- call us on 1300 95 95 13
- email us at info@greenlifeindustry.org.au
- complete our contact form.
