“21st Century Pathways to Careers in Agriculture”

​building the quality and currency of agricultural programs and industry partnerships across the North Central region.
The North Central LLEN’s project 21st Century Pathways to Careers in Agriculture, funded through the Secondary Schools Agriculture Fund, aimed to build the quality and currency of agricultural programs and industry partnerships across the North Central region.

The project developed locally relevant industry immersion experiences, workplace tours and work experience opportunities to increase student exposure to the variety of agriculture and related industries; facilitated improved connections to local industries, understanding of local jobs and new technologies; and established a shared practice network of Careers Teachers across the NCLLEN catchment of schools and neighbouring areas to increase the understanding, quality and availability of agricultural careers advice.

In doing so it created a sustainable model scalable to other rural areas of Victoria and, across the NCLLEN catchment, led to higher quality education and training opportunities for our students and improved traineeship/apprenticeship and employment accessibility.

In doing so it created a sustainable model scalable to other rural areas of Victoria and, across the NCLLEN catchment, led to higher quality education and training opportunities for our students and improved traineeship/apprenticeship and employment accessibility.

This included a Framework for those wishing to implement similar initiatives. It is envisaged that this will be a key resource for schools, other LLENs, and industry peak bodies. 
School Agriculture Survey

At the commencement of the 21st Century Careers in Agriculture project, students at North Central cluster schools were invited to participate in a survey to help determine the information and experiences they would need to consider a career in Agriculture and related industries.
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Agricultural Education & Resources

​Agricultural education and career awareness is supported by an extensive array of professional bodies. The Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia (PIEFA) is the key organisation providing access to school educational resources.

​However, the following organisations can provide students and teachers with up-to-date and comprehensive information relevant to a specific industry on interest or your region. 
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Links to Educational Resources:​​
Connections

​Established student programs that support careers education or enhance student learning about agriculture are key to igniting interest and providing accessible agricultural career pathways. However, many careers educators work in relative isolation. Building a network of connections is central to success. ​
North Central LLEN Case Studies and Resources
"The Ag Shed" Newsletter

Filled with information to keep stakeholders connected on our quest to provide engaging and credible information on matters relating to local agricultural education.  

​Click the button below to view individual newsletters.
​BCG Partnership
To ensure that the NCLLEN Agricultural Project was embedded in the community and formed connections that are ongoing and sustainable, we formed a partnership with the Birchip Cropping Group.
​Broadacre cropping is a key agricultural industry in our region and the work of the Birchip Cropping Group showcases the diverse elements of careers in agriculture.​

More than 130 students from schools across North Central Victoria had a fabulous time at the BCG (Birchip Cropping Group) Main Field Day at Kinnabulla in September 2023 learning about the many careers available in
agriculture.

Students joined farmers, and a range of industry stakeholders on a tour of the crop trials, before participating in a panel discussion with Yolanda Plowman
and Grace Hosking from BCG, Rik Maitmann from Nutrien Ag and Wimmera Farmer Tim Rethus who each shared their journey to a career in agriculture and why it is such a rewarding pathway.
​"Why Ag" Careers Panel
In May 2023, as part of the North Central LLEN AGM, the Project facilitated a careers panel on "Why Ag".
Angus Verley, Rural Reporter with ABC Wimmera moderated a panel of three young people who have chosen a career pathway in agriculture to explore the theme “Why Ag” as part of our 21st Century Careers in Agriculture project.

Will Simpson (Berriwillock), Danielle Lang (Nareewillock) and James Taylor (Tandarra) have all had different paths back to the farm, but all share a passion for agriculture - something we are hoping to capture in our new 21st Century Careers in Agriculture project funded through the Sustainable Schools Agriculture Fund.

After growing up on the family farm and completing his secondary schooling at Tyrrell College in Sea Lake, Will completed a Bachelor of Community and Human Services (Welfare) at Federation University, and worked within the welfare sector before returning to the family farm. He has been full time on his family farm for five years now and loves the challenges and variables farming presents.

Danielle Lang lives and works on her family's cropping farm at Nareewillock, north east of Charlton where she grew up, and attended Charlton College. After completing Year 12 VCE, Danielle completed an apprenticeship with Bourke's Butchers in Birchip and then went on to study Agribusiness and Agronomy at Longerenong, after realising her real passion was farming.  Over the last couple of years she worked part-time with Cobram Estate Olives during harvest but has now committed to her family farm full-time. She has always loved farm life, seeing it more as a lifestyle than a job.

The third speaker was James Taylor who lives and works on the family farm at Tandarra running sheep, cattle and lucerne hay.  James grew up in the area and attended East Loddon P-12 College and Bendigo Senior Secondary College before studying a Bachelor of Agriculture at Melbourne University and working with Meat and Livestock Australia and the Birchip Cropping Group. James returned to the farm full-time in 2022 and said that he was passionate about growing the farm business.​
Nutrien Ag Solutions
School Scholarship Program
​An exciting new initiative has seen the North Central LLEN partner with Nutrien AG Solutions to support a scholarship for a senior student in each of our nine cluster schools who has shown passion and achievement in subjects that may lead to a career in agriculture. 

In addition to a $150 gift voucher, recipients were hosted by Nutrien Ag Solutions at their Bendigo Office at the end of  January 2024 for a networking and careers immersion day. 

At the end of January six Nutrien Ag scholarship winners from schools across the North Central region travelled to Bendigo for a networking and careers immersion day at the Bendigo office.  
Ex- Wedderburn local, Hayden Coombes gave a detailed tour of the office and merchandise.  Hayden emphasised to students that developing relationships with growers and listening was key to successful agronomy.  

Nutrien then provided a careers panel which included Hayden Coombes, Teagen Welsh (Boort Manager) and Candice Cordy (Kyneton Manager).  Each panel member had a diverse career journey but they all concurred about the importance of being punctual, enthusiastic, asking questions and taking opportunities.

Scholarship recipient Ned Zagame from Charlton College said he learnt about the different ways you can get into agriculture and the diversity of the industry. “It will allow me to get into the different parts of agriculture that I really want to get into,” he said.

The day concluded with a formal ceremony where Jacinta Sutton (Careers Team Leader NCLLEN) and Vanessa Murphy (Nutrien Senior Talent Attraction Business Partner – North-East Australia) presented students with their award which included a generous monetary amount to help them with their future studies.

NCLLEN Project Coordinator Sue Gould was delighted with the enthusiasm shown by the students and now they embraced the opportunity to learn more about careers in agriculture.  The aim of the project is building and enhancing agricultural education programs and industry partnerships in the North Central region.
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This scholarship initiative in partnership with Nutrien Ag is a fantastic example of schools and industry working together to support career pathways for local students.
University Field Trips
Early on in the project we discovered that many students from the North Central Cluster schools still see agriculture primarily as a hands-on job that can be learnt on-site.  Compounding this misconception is the isolation and lack of exposure to tertiary and training institutions.  

To create student awareness of tertiary studies and training opportunities in agriculture in both the TAFE and University sector and encourage students to see the value of expanding their horizons and social networks, we facilitated Field Trips to Charles Sturt University (Wagga Wagga Campus) and Longerenong Agricultural College for students from Pyramid Hill College and East Loddon P-12 School.
​​​YTO Partnership with Nutrien Ag
During second Term in 2024, the "Youth Take Over" model was used as part of Vocational Major Literacy studies with Year 11 students from Boort District School. Youth Take Over is an initiative by the North Central LLEN that aims to give young people an understanding of growing industries and valuable work experience.
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This took place in partnership with Nutrien Ag Solutions at Boort and focussed on the diverse range of career pathways in agriculture.  To find out more, click on the button below.
VCE Curriculum Unit 1 Agriculture resources
As part of the project, a range of curriculum resources were developed and trialled as part of VCE Curriculum Unit 1 Agriculture Resources at Boort District School.  Links to these can be found below:
Building and enhancing the quality and currency of agricultural education programs and industry partnerships in the North Central region. 
The Project
Pathways to a Career in Agriculture in the 21st Century” is a two-part project that will take place over an
18-month period taking a systems approach where co-design with young people, schools, and industry will be integral to its success and sustainability into the future.

It will begin with a comprehensive review of current agricultural programs and identify challenges and
opportunities at each of our cluster schools. Working with agricultural industries and employers across the north central region, we will explore initiatives available through external providers – virtual, industry
immersion, tours, work experience, etc that could be available to north central students though more
formalised partnerships with industry.

From this information, we will develop a framework for an innovative careers education program that explores the many facets of the 21st century agricultural workforce incorporating excellence in education (enhanced curriculum), excellence in training (SBATs, Work Experience and Immersion Programs) together with a clear alignment to SWL to increase the number of young people pursuing training at school in agriculture.

This will include small pilot projects (with industry) to “test” components of the Framework at each stage:
  • Exposure to agriculture as a Career Path (Years 7 & 8)
  • Exploration of agriculture as a Career Path (Years 9 & 10)
  • Education and Training that is innovative, engaging and diverse to meet the needs of employers in 21st century agriculture

Working in partnership with 8 North Central Cluster schools and the North Central Trade Training Centre (NCTTC), the North Central LLEN will test, review and evaluate the information and experiences that form part of the project which will result in the development of the framework for “21st Century Pathways to Careers in Agriculture”. The initiative will be supported by the North Central LLEN Careers and Pathways team (four career practitioners working in schools) who will assist with the pilot activities.

Staff from each of the cluster schools will be supported with training that focusses on curriculum innovation, an awareness of agricultural careers, how to maintain currency in the sector and the diverse range of
opportunities, including utilising modern technology.

NCTTC staff delivering VET Agriculture, Animal Studies (and to a lesser extent Automotive, Engineering and Equine Studies which all have a link to agriculture) will be supported to enhance their ability to focus on curriculum innovation utilising modern technology and how to formalise local agricultural industry partnerships.
Sample Pilot Activities:
  • EXPOSURE TO AGRICULTURE AS A CAREER PATH (YEARS 7 & 8) 
    Industry tours to large agricultural enterprises – eg. Boundary Bend Estate (Boort), Teys Feedlot, O’Connors (Birchip, St Arnaud and/or Swan Hill), Birchip Cropping Group (extension & agronomy), North Central/Wimmera/Mallee CMA (Natural Resource Management), Wimmera Grampians Water (Irrigation), Nutrien Ag (Supply Chain), Craig Henderson (diversified farm), Longrenong (agricultural training), PeaCo (Grain Receival).

  • EXPLORATION OF AGRICULTURE AS A CAREER PATH (YEARS 9 & 10) 
  • Work experience placements – work with schools to provide innovative opportunities for students to learn about agriculture as a diverse career pathway
  • Virtual reality – participation in the VicLLENs VICE initiative
  • Production of videos that show the diverse range of career pathways for young people considering a career in agriculture (or to encourage them to consider agriculture as a career pathway)
  • Deep dive “events” that encompass agricultural industries as a whole and the different types of careers 
  • within these – broadacre, horticulture, viticulture, livestock, supply chains, agribusiness
  • Agricultural Careers Expo as part of the Birchip Cropping Group Field Day in September (students from the 8 schools to attend) with stakeholders promoting the career pathways within their organisations (entry level and higher), eg. GRDC, Grain companies, Agri banks, etc.

  • EDUCATION AND TRAINING THAT IS INNOVATIVE, ENGAGING AND DIVERSE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EMPLOYERS IN 21ST CENTURY AGRICULTURE  
    It is our goal to grow the number of students from our eight schools participating in agricultural education and training at VCE level through participating in VET courses at the North Central Trade Training Centre (agriculture and animal studies), SWL placements, and internships programs. 

    In addition to educational and career aspiration outcomes which are integral to this project, we know there will be other benefits from young people being able to connect with students from other schools across the region, as well as efficiency for the agricultural sector who will participate in less events with greater reach and efficacy.

PROJECT OUTCOMES:
  1. A comprehensive review of agricultural education and industry engagement (challenges and opportunities) at north central schools at this point in time

  2. The creation of a map (co-designed with young people, schools and industry) that clearly shows the many and varied agricultural career pathways available to young people locally and regionally

  3. The development of a transferrable framework for future use in schools promoting educational ​pathways to a career in Agriculture in the 21st Century which:
  • Develops locally relevant industry immersion experiences, workplace tours and work experience/immersion opportunities to increase student exposure to the variety of work in agriculture and  related areas.
  • Enables better connections to local industry and understanding of local jobs and new industry technologies.
  • Establishes a shared practice network of Careers Teachers across our Cluster schools, and neighbouring areas, to increase the quality of agricultural careers advice
  • Leads to higher quality education and training opportunities for our students through the NCTTC, SBATS, SWL, work experience and immersion programs, and in the long term better traineeship/apprenticeship and employment opportunities
For more information about this project, contact Sue Gould on 0490 205 705 or
email [email protected]
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Copyright 2024 - North Central LLEN

Phone: 03 5491 1144
Email: [email protected]
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​​NCLLEN acknowledges the traditional custodians of this land: for many centuries they have met and cared for
​children and young people on the lands on which we now work.