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This initiative is funded by the Department of Employment,

Small Business and Training’s Gateway to Industry Schools

Program.

May 2019

AGRIBUSINESS GATEWAY

TO INDUSTRY SCHOOLS

PROGRAM EXTENSION

Tanya Nagle

0428 154 803

naglet@agforceqld.org.au

AgForce Queensland

This initiative is funded by The Department of Employment, Small Business and Training's Gateway to Industry Schools Program.

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AGISP Extension 2019

AgForce Queensland, under an agreement with DESBT, will be working with Agribusiness Gateway to Industry Schools (AGISP) this year to facilitate connections with local agribusinesses and offer events and programs to further engage with the agribusiness industry. We will also be connecting with other schools in regions where AGISP schools are located to help open their gateway to agriculture. Events and programs include Ag Inspirations, Career Conversations, Career Snapshots, Ag Connect, Moo Baa Munch and Teach the teacher.

EVENTS UNDERTAKEN

Ag Inspirations Dalby Region

AgForce organised an Ag Inspirations Tour of the Dalby region as part of the initiative funded by the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training’s Gateway to Industry Schools Program. Ten students from Dalby State High School attended the three-day tour agriculture businesses in the Dalby Region.

Ag Inspirations involves three insight tools in the form of conversations facilitated by the SIPP and the

employers to help young people discover their potential and explore career opportunities:

All about me: This conversation focuses on the student and aims to discover the student’s talents and

passions. Students complete a personality profile prior to attending Ag Inspirations and are guided

through this profile on the first morning.

Look behind the scenes: This conversation focuses on what the business does and generally involves

a brief tour around the business with the employer raising awareness of the variety and scope of

opportunities within the organisation.

Careers happen: This conversation is also facilitated by the employer and aims to illustrate how

careers unfold; ie often in a non-linear way, and how opportunistic the nature of career progression

can be. During the wrap-up session students are guided through a career board exercise focusing on

an employer they found inspiring or related to during the tour.

Over the three days the students toured various agribusinesses through the Dalby Region.

Mort & Co. Grassdale Feedlot: Students toured

the facility and heard about career pathways, the

expansion of the feedlot, the businesses attached

to the feedlot (fertilizer etc), and the varied

opportunities to work at the feedlot and what the

expectations of the company were.

This initiative is funded by The Department of Employment, Small Business and Training's Gateway to Industry Schools Program.

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Queensland Cotton Gin: Careers at

the cotton gin and wider cotton

industry were discussed as well as the

process of turning cotton boles into

cotton fibre that is sent around the

world.

Belmont Pastoral Company: The pig

artificial insemination process and

industry were discussed. The pork

industry and opportunities for careers –

that if you are interested and work hard

you will go a long way and the industry

is finally on an up after being depressed

over the last couple of years. Students

thought about the personality profile

traits that may suit working in a

laboratory.

Dalby Bio-refinery: Dalby Bio-Refinery is

Australia’s first grain-to-ethanol facility.

The sorghum grain is converted into

fuel-grade ethanol and high value

animal feed products, called distillers

grain and syrup. Students toured the

facility to understand the process of

making ethanol from sorghum and the

jobs involved and career pathways

(there are opportunities for promotion

and advancement within the company).

Rabobank: Careers in agri-banking and

pathways to those careers discussed. Two staff

members shared their career pathways with

the students connecting well with one of the

stories and using it in the career board activity

on the final day. Rabobank also spoke about

the co-op business model and how they invest

back into agriculture research.

This initiative is funded by The Department of Employment, Small Business and Training's Gateway to Industry Schools Program.

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Dalby Saleyards: The students were introduced to the role of the

saleyard, the careers available at the saleyards and associated careers

(agents, transport operators, canteen etc).

Oakey Beef: An overview of the operation was given along with the

multitude of jobs available at Oakey Beef and the opportunity for

career advancement. The students then undertook a tour of the

facility and were able to see first hand the improvements the company

have made to increase yields, decrease food safety risks and

improvements in workplace health and safety. The students also

picked up application forms for potential holiday work.

Following the tours, the students completed career boards for a particular business or person that

inspired them and reflection sheets on the Ag Inspirations experience.

This initiative is funded by The Department of Employment, Small Business and Training's Gateway to Industry Schools Program.

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Reflections

The Ag Inspirations has made me feel:

Really good about the studies I am doing. I always second guess everything I do but I am passionate

about agriculture and can’t wait to do something within the industry. Ag Inspirations had broadened

my horizons of what jobs there are within ag.

More confident and less worried about finding a job I will like and be comfortable in.

Like I now have a better understanding of agricultural jobs around Dalby and agriculture isn’t just

about working on a farm.

Even more confident about females being able to do all jobs.

More confident about talking to people about their businesses and how they run their business and

making their clients happy and benefits to them.

What I have now realised about careers is:

There are so many opportunities with the agricultural industry and there’s always room to make it to

a higher role.

That in one career there are many other careers/jobs that go with it like feedlot work isn’t just people

who feed cattle, there are accountants, builders, technicians and canteen workers.

For a lot of top businesses you don’t need training just background knowledge would benefit a bit.

That ag is not all farming.

This initiative is funded by The Department of Employment, Small Business and Training's Gateway to Industry Schools Program.

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CONNECTING SCHOOLS WITH INDUSTRY

Livingstone Christian College – Industry Contacts

Industry contacts with QCWT, Aquaponics industry and Landcare management group for Pimpama River (improving river systems with aquaponics).

Genesis Christian College – Work experience

Student in year 12 expressed desire to work in livestock industry (cattle) and school has no ag department or contacts. Helping to find work experience for student - provided student with contact and information for Mort and Co. and NAPCO. They were two contacts that were able to assist with work experience. Home Hill State High School – Ag Inspirations and work experience Connecting with industry for student placement for work experience and Ag Inspirations tour stops.