Introduction to careers in agriculture
Students from across the region have an opportunity to sample the wide array of jobs in agriculture under a new initiative.
Wimmera Southern Mallee LLEN, in partnership with Longerenong College, successfully applied for funding through the Victorian Department of Education’s Secondary School Agricultural Fund to launch the project.
‘Come and try agriculture @ Longy’ aims to increase awareness among secondary school students of the different careers available in agriculture.
Head of campus Avril Hogan said the college was ‘excited’ to host secondary school students and help them learn more about careers in agriculture.
Horsham Special School students were the first to take up the ‘hands-on’ learning experience.
“We’re really happy to have Horsham Special School here,” Ms Hogan said.
“We have been showing students some of the different jobs available and getting them excited about what happens in our region with agriculture.”
Ms Hogan said Horsham Special School’s visit was for a single day, but experiences could be extended across multiple day camps.
“We are showing students a little bit about wool classing and wool pressing and they are watching our current students at our shearing school,” she said.
“We are going to do a livestock identification class in the feed lodge, showing the different kinds of cattle we have.”
Ms Hogan said the day also involved
a visit to the data farm and an agronomy exercise.
“It’s a taster for these students to understand that agriculture is not just driving tractors – there are drones, technology, wool, livestock, animal health and nutrition,” she said.
“For students that might want to be vets but can’t get into veterinary medicine, they can come here and learn
about livestock and be a livestock adviser and be out in paddocks and working with animals – it’s just letting them understand what is available.
Wimmera Southern Mallee LLEN executive officer Tim Shaw said his organisation had received strong interest from schools wanting to be involved.
Mr Shaw said the program would immerse students in an engaging selection of ‘hands-on’ agricultural and STEM activities at Longerenong College and industry partners.
He said encouraging students to consider careers in agriculture would help meet a skills shortage in the industry.
“The aim is to increase awareness of the broad range of careers in agriculture,” he said.
Mr Shaw said the immersive activities would be delivered in a series of camps lasting between one and five days.
He said during camps that lasted multiple days, students would stay on site to get the full Longerenong College experience.
Mr Shaw said it was estimated 154 students would be involved in visits and camps at Longerenong College, aided by the funding.
There are 252 students from seven schools booked to attend, with further opportunities to be provided next year.
Mr Shaw said the initiative was a great opportunity to learn about the many avenues that a career in agriculture could lead to.
“Agriculture is not just about farming,” he said.
The project is funded until March 30, 2024.