agribusiness gateway to industry schools program …€¦ · making ethanol from sorghum and the...
TRANSCRIPT
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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
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.