February 8, 2014
Growing The Burnett has put out an urgent call … for would-be small acre farmers and food handlers who are willing to be trained for free.
The operators of the Red Earth Meadows farm at Memerambi have been successful in securing a second round of funding to provide more horticultural training to South Burnett jobseekers.
However confirmation that the funding had been approved only came through yesterday, and project leader Brian Jarvis now has to have up to 26 students signed up by February 21.
The students will receive eight weeks full-time training through the Australian Agricultural College Corporation at the Memerambi farm.
Graduates will earn a Certificate III in Rural Operations, a nationally recognised qualification.
There will also be shorter courses available for food handling and post-harvest operations.
The program is being funded by the Australian Government through the Local Employment Co-Ordinator Flexible Funding Pool.
“This means the courses are totally funded for people who are unemployed or underemployed,” Brian said.
The Certificate III students will spend two a days a week in classroom-style learning at Memerambi while the rest will be hands-on experience in the paddock.
Some of the food handling training will be carried out in fruit packing sheds in the North Burnett while food safety will be taught in Kingaroy.
Brian said people interested in doing the courses should contact him as soon as possible on 0417-756-528 to find out more information.
He also expressed Growing The Burnett’s gratitude to the Australian Government for their support.
Related articles:
- Students Put Microscope On Farm
- Growing The Burnett … One Job At A Time
- Locals Star At Mid-Week Markets
- Senator Congratulates Graduates
- Horticulture Project Starts Growing
- Calling All Would-Be Horticulturalists!
- $66,000 Grant For Horticultural Trainees
- Workshop To Focus On Seed Planting
- Small Farming Draws A Large Audience
- Farming ‘Should Be Fun’
