Since its establishment in 1996, the National Vegetable Levy, with contributions from the Australian Government, has funded vital research and development (R&D) to help improve the productivity and profitability of Australian vegetable growing operations. The purpose of the Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited (HIA) funded VG12014 National Vegetable Industry Communication Strategy: Management and Implementation (VICS) project is to effectively communicate the findings of this R&D to growers and industry, and ensure that all National Vegetable Levy payers throughout Australia are aware of the outcomes from the investment of their levies. The VICS project commenced in December 2012 under the management of AUSVEG, and was undertaken to ensure that National Vegetable Levy payers and other key industry stakeholders were provided with information regarding the outcomes of all relevant research and development projects and other relevant industry news, issues and data. The VICS project heralded the arrival of an exciting period for the industry, with the combination of emerging and traditional media and communication methods, ranging from printed booklets and brochures to email and emerging online, social media and mobile technologies, set to better inform and involve all sectors of the vegetable growing community, resulting in better transfer of R&D outcomes and industry information to Australian growers. As well as this, VICS provided levy payers with a sense of ownership over their industry communications through greater interaction with other sectors of the industry. Throughout the project’s three-year lifespan, AUSVEG has used an extensive range of both traditional and contemporary communication tools to ensure that the communication strategy devised was implemented effectively and was utilised to maximum potential to guarantee all information reached the widest possible audience. Communication activities have been expressed through the use of the following:  Publication of the weekly e-newsletter Weekly Update.  Publication of annual Grower Success Stories.  Media relations for R&D-related news, including media releases, Twitter and contributions to publications.  Publication of brochures on the National Vegetable Levy.  Stakeholder Relations and additional industry communications.  Grower Consultations, including hosting successful Annual Levy Payers’ Meetings.  Establishment and maintenance of an industry R&D database and photographic library. As there are over 150 different levied vegetable commodities that are covered by this project, it was 4 imperative that all communications activities accounted for the shared and unique issues affecting each of these commodities. Key outcomes of the VICS project include:  The continuation of a strong media presence in both metropolitan and regional/rural Australia, which has resulted in the ability for widespread penetration and awareness of key issues and outcomes relating to the Australian vegetable industry, which has been essential to ensuring cost-effective coverage of R&D related news.  High level of grower participation in vegetable industry workshops, seminars and forums.  Increasingly positive feedback of the weekly e-newsletter, the Weekly Update, which regularly features important news and information for members of the vegetable industry and is now distributed to more than 3,500 growers and relevant stakeholders.  Positive feedback from growers and industry for the annual Grower Success Stories publications and Vegetable Levy brochures.  Positive results from the independent review of the communications program undertaken in 2015. These outcomes demonstrate that VICS has consistently and effectively fulfilled its purpose, providing National Vegetable Levy payers with a broad range of information in an accessible manner. To carry on