April 10, 2018
Rural students in Years 10, 11 and 12 can now access agricultural training at home by completing a Certificate III in Agriculture with TAFE Queensland.
Students completing the traineeship can be employed by their parents’ farming business or a local primary producer, allowing them to complete their practical training during school holidays or one day per week, with training and assessment visits conducted on site by TAFE Queensland trainers.
Course competencies are chosen by the employer and are tailored to suit seasonal operations and conditions.
Debbie Jackson, Kingaroy TAFE’s Primary Industries Faculty Director, said the flexible program had been designed with rural families in mind.
“We have been providing rural training across Queensland for 20 years with seven highly experienced staff from a broad range of areas including animal production and feedlotting, cropping, horse breeding and dairying,” she said.
“A number of them still operate their own farming enterprises.”
Ms Jackson said not only do students receive a qualification, but that there were other benefits for trainees and their employers, too.
“Students completing Grade 12 from 2020 onwards will be able to count their Certificate III qualification towards their ATAR score, and the self-paced course gives a solid foundation to those students who continue on to further study,” Ms Jackson said.
“Parents have also found family relationships and communication are enhanced as their child gains a greater understanding of how the family business operates through the traineeship.”
Sharon Young, Director of Kingaroy-based mixed farming operation Young Farms Pty Ltd, said she had no hesitation in recommending other producers consider TAFE for their rural training needs.
“I have been working with the TAFE’s rural team for 15 years, and we have found that the teachers and staff are very supportive of the learning needs of our trainees,” Ms Young said.
“They are focussed on our trainees keeping up with their training with regular follow up visits and making themselves available for extra assistance.”
Parents, students or primary producers seeking more information on rural traineeships are encouraged to contact the TAFE Queensland rural team on 1300 904 754 or by visiting TAFE’s website.
