TAFE NSW is encouraging the next generation to take up an in-demand career in the booming agricultural sector by showcasing training pathways at the Henty Machinery Field Days.
Australia’s peak farming body, National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) said TAFE NSW will play a critical role in ensuring the industry has the workforce to meet future demand.
“Agriculture is a rapidly changing industry and whether it’s at the cutting edge of technology, working on the land, or in a lab, agriculture offers so many exciting career opportunities,” said Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan.
“By investing in the skills and training of our workforce at these campuses, the NSW Government is ensuring our farmers and agricultural workers are well-prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.”
The NFF Roadmap outlines its vision to grow the agricultural workforce by 25 per cent over the next decade.
The iconic three-day event which concludes today, is southern Australia’s largest agricultural fair.
The event features the latest in machinery and farm equipment, farm produce, agronomy, government and health services, and agribusiness.
TAFE NSW Primary Industries Centre has had a site at the event for more than 35 years and this year’s is one of its largest ever.
The TAFE NSW site includes seven “junior judging stations”, featuring demonstrations and interactive displays in subject areas including beef genetics, sheep production, crops and pastures, animal studies, and wool.
Local high school and primary school students have been invited to participate in the stations and gain a deeper understanding of how a TAFE NSW agriculture course can lead to an exciting and rewarding career.
The TAFE NSW site at Henty also includes a shearing demonstration, horticulture display, domestic pet first aid demonstration, and two hi-tech virtual welders.
A host of TAFE NSW Certificate IV and Diploma agriculture students will be at the event to network with employers and industry heavyweights.
According to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES), the nation’s agriculture industry was worth a record $80 billion in 2022-23.
In July, the NSW Government announced it was helping futureproof the state’s farming industry and agricultural workforce.