Introduction
The Registry of Coaches exists to make it easier for people interested in healthy food and practical growing systems to find support. It is published by the Healthy Food Association as a straightforward list of registered coaches. Coaches are not approved through a complex process. Instead, they submit their own details in a consistent format, and those details are placed on the registry.
The aim is simple: to bring coaches and users together in one place without making the registry owner responsible for verifying each listing. This keeps the system easy to manage and allows it to grow steadily over time.
What This Registry Is
This document is a list of registered coaches for the Healthy Food Association. It acts as a shared reference point so members can locate coaches by state and read the information each coach has supplied.
The registry is described as a provisional publication. This means it is an early release that demonstrates the format coaches are advised to use. As more coaches submit details, the registry can be expanded and updated.
How Coaches Get Listed
Coaches are listed by emailing their details to the registry contact. Once received, those details are published using the advised format. This approach avoids complex forms or platforms and keeps participation simple and accessible.
Coaches submit their information by emailing colinaustin@bigpond.com.
Responsibility and Boundaries
The registry makes two responsibilities very clear. First, the coach is entirely responsible for the accuracy of the information they provide. The registry publishes information but does not act as a verification authority.
Second, any commercial arrangement is strictly between the coach and the member. This includes pricing, scope of work, payment terms, and outcomes. The registry does not act as a broker or intermediary. Members are encouraged to ask questions, confirm expectations, and agree on terms directly with the coach before beginning any paid work.
States and Regions
The registry groups coaches by state and territory to help members find local or regional support. The structure includes New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory.
This regional structure is especially useful where coaching involves site-specific advice, construction guidance, or local growing conditions.
Recommended Coach Entry Format
The registry includes a sample coach entry to demonstrate the recommended structure. This helps maintain consistency and makes entries easier to read and compare.
The sample entry is listed under Queensland and provides a practical example of how coaches should present their information.
Sample Coach Entry — Queensland
Name
Colin Austin.
Address
55 Kookaburra Park, Gin Gin, Queensland 4671.
Telephone
07 4157 2278.
Experience and Background
The sample entry outlines a background combining engineering, technology development, and long-term research into soil regeneration and food systems.
Colin Austin is an engineer who developed Moldflow technology and built one of Australia’s leading exporters of technical software. He was internationally recognised as a leader in computational fluid flow.
His research into soil regeneration began in the 1970s, leading to the development of wicking bed technology in 1995. Personal health experiences, including recovery from a triple bypass and supporting a partner living with diabetes, reinforced a long-term commitment to healthy food systems.
Wicking Beds Constructed
The sample entry explains experience across a wide range of wicking bed designs, including small boxes, open and closed beds, and wicking furrows.
Ongoing experimentation includes sponge bed systems intended for larger-scale use. This practical experience is important because successful wicking beds depend on correct construction, soil structure, and long-term water management.
Services Offered
General advice on wicking bed construction and use is provided online and is offered free of charge.
This clear service description helps members understand what support is available and how it is delivered.
Products Offered
The sample entry lists two products designed to support soil regeneration and small-scale food production.
Bio-packs include host plants for mycorrhizal fungi, selected worm eggs for soil regeneration, and micro-nutrients, priced at $25.
Small wicking bed boxes incorporating bio-packs and selected plants are listed at $40.
Websites
The sample entry includes multiple websites that provide background information, technical explanations, and related resources.
Email Contacts
Two email addresses are provided to allow direct contact and discussion of specific needs or questions.
Using the Registry Effectively
Members are encouraged to approach the registry with clear goals. Before contacting a coach, it helps to understand what type of system is being built, local climate conditions, available space and materials, and desired outcomes.
Clear starting information allows coaches to give more precise advice and reduces misunderstandings.
Keeping the Registry Current
The registry is designed as a living document. As more coaches submit information, entries can be added or updated using the same format.
This simple structure makes the registry easy to maintain while supporting steady growth.
Conclusion
The Registry of Coaches is a practical tool for connecting people with knowledge and experience in healthy food and growing systems. Coaches provide their own information, and members engage directly with them. The registry does not verify listings or manage commercial relationships.
By keeping the system simple, clear, and open, the registry supports learning, reduces barriers to action, and helps people build better systems with confidence.
Download ‘Healthy Food Association: Registry of Coaches’ (full PDF)
