Education and Training
As part of a heightened focus on skills, education and training, the NFF is active in projects, partnerships and working alliances to promote agriculture as a modern, challenging and satisfying career choice, while raising awareness of modern farm activity within the broader community, and ensuring Government programs reflect the needs of rural and regional Australia.
Skills-based Learning in Agriculture
The challenges before Australian farmers have cast a spotlight on the vast array of skill-sets that will be essential for the sector's future.
Drought and climate change have underscored the need to engage in new science and technology, develop high-level business management, international market expertise, consumer trends and potential new products - which, in turn, will frequently require new methods of production.
This means Australia's farm sector requires a higher skilled workforce than ever before, in addition to traditional labour and skills.
These issues underpin the National Farmers' Federation's (NFF's) 2008 Labour Shortage Action Plan, which forms synergies between the organisation's Workplace Releations and Education and Training portfolios.
The corresponding change to the demands on farmers as employers, business people and environmental stewards has been an integral element of this paradigm shift.
The task of skilling the existing and prospective labour market to undertake careers on farms is a significant task. Providing the development of skills-building for farmers themselves is just as important, and a paramount component of any vision of agriculture as a ‘modern business’.
Since January 2007, the NFF has undertaken and delivered major initiatives in conjunction with relevant partners.
Farm Apprenticeship Incentives
The NFF has ensured that Australian farmers have access to incentive programs available to other 'traditional trades' through special concessions under the National Skills Needs List.
Agricultural and horticultural apprentices now have access to the $800 Toolkit for Trades and the $1,000 Apprenticeship Training (Fee) Voucher, under a $47.7 million package.
Details of these incentives are available at the Australian Apprenticeships website
Australian Technical Colleges
Upon setting up the Australian Technical Colleges (ATCs), the Australian Government defined their charter as only including apprenticeships for the so-called ‘traditional trades’, thereby, excluding farm apprenticeships from the program.
The NFF advocated that farm apprentices should to be included, arguing that ATCs were located in regional areas and that agriculture, as a major employer experiencing significant skill shortages, it should be included.
The Australian Government subsequently addressed these concerns and expanded the program to include farm apprentices.
Trade Training Centres in Schools
The NFF was heavily engaged in the development of the Australian Government's policy, and implementation, of the Trade Training Centres in Schools Program.
The NFF pressed for the inclusion of ‘farming’ as an eligible apprenticeship under the program and a relaxing of the criteria to make it more responsive and flexible in taking account of rural Australia's needs - especially the ability of schools to establish farm trade training centrea on-campus.
The Program provides $2.5 billion over 10 years to enable all secondary schools to apply for funding of between $500,000 and $1.5 million to establish Trade Training Centres.
The inclusion of farm apprenticeship centres ensures that the farm sector is not disadvantaged in attracting new entrants into the workforce.
The NFF encourages farmers to engage with their local schools in applying for a farm-based Trade Training Centre.
More information is available at by visiting the Trade Training Centres wesbite
Institute for Trade Skills Excellence
The Institute for Trade Skills Excellence (ITSE) was established to promote and advance learning, teaching and training in Australian trades education and elevate their status as career choices.
With initial start-up funding from the Australian Government, the Institute is led by industry - with key stakeholders including the NFF, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Australian Industry Group.
It encompasses eight industry groups suffering trade skill shortages. The NFF is the Secretariat for the Rural and Farming Industry Reference Group.
The NFF established three 'Trade Teacher of the Year' Awards for farming, to recognise the best Agriculture, Horticulture, and Conservation and Land Management trade teachers in the country.
Further, through the Star Rating Scheme, the NFF has recognised excellence in farm teacher training in aquaculture, shearing, dairy, and amenity horticulture.
The ITSE SkillsOne website and payTV channel have promoted a wide raonge of materials on the benefits of a modern farming career.
Regional Partnerships
The NFF is a key participant in two major projects, partnering with other regional employers, to nurture and support development of a sustainable workforce for rural communities.
The two projects are:
- the Australian Regional Agricultural and Mining Skills Projects, via Memorandum of Understanding between the NFF, the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) and the Australian Government (see the MoU attached below).
Recognising the high demand for skilled labour in rural Australia, the Australian Government is funding three pilot projects through the National Skills Shortages Strategy in the Townsville region of Queensland; Port Augusta region of South Australia; and Dubbo region of NSW.
The agreement trials different ways of coordinating training activities, facilitating improved engagement with the vocational education and training system, and establishing direct links to on-the-job training and industry employment.
It is intended that the Projects will grow sustainable labour pools through building regional collaborative partnerships.
Both the agriculture and mining sectors have a strong presence in these areas, and will work together to attract, train and retain workers in the local communities.
The activities are intended to provide a highly skilled workforce for both industries, as well as targeting community development needs including those of Indigenous Australians, school leavers and women.
- the Regional Employers Alliance Project, sees the NFF partner with the Local Government Managers’ Association.
The three pilot projects implemented in 2008 are:
1. The Central Highlands, Queensland, 'Grey Nomads’ Seasonal Workforce Attraction' - matching local skill needs to skill sets of transient population.
2. Upper Hunter, New South Wales, 'Investing in Pathways to the Future' – developing skills clusters in training and a pathway for Certificates 1 & II.
3. Northern Tasmania, 'Investing in the Region' – skills cluster training and career pathway development for sustainable living with transferable land and environment management skills.
University Enrolments
The NFF's Skills Taskforce identified the potential ramifications a decline in university-level agriculture enrolments would have on farming.
As such, the NFF is working with the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, the Australian Council of Agricultural Deans and other stakeholders, to form a special working group to address the following issues:
- Poor image of agriculture, which discourages students (and parents) from considering agricultural careers.
- Meeting future demands for agricultural professionals, including shortage of numbers and knowledge/skill needs of different sectors.
- Better defining and recognising industry needs and closing the cultural gap between university and industry.
- Critical Mass to provide agricultural teaching.
- Inconsistent or restrictive regulation that creates economic disincentives.
FarmReady
Formerly known as FarmBis, this national program administered by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, has been modified by the new Rudd Government.
The draft guidelines for the new program demonstrate that that the new Government will continue to deliver some of the outcomes provided by FarmBis through its funding of climatic change preparedness measures.
The NFF has briefed the new Agriculture Minister on the key strategic goal for farmers being is to improve skills and capacity within the farming population.
The Minister has indicated a high importance on education and training for the farm sector, committing to developing and expanding this area of work.
It is crucial that the outcomes of FarmBis, mainly its promotion of the benefits of business and natural resource management education and training and its focus towards higher-level training for strategic management of farms, are maintained.
Further information on the new FarmReady program is available at the FarmReady website
Rural Skills Australia
In conjunction with the NFF, state farm organisations, the Australian Workers' Union, and the Rural Training Council of Australia, Rural Skills Australia supports training across the agricultural and horticultural sectors.
Rural Skills Australia provides advice, assistance and training to Australian Apprenticeships Centres, Job Network members and Registered Training Organisations on Rural and related Australian Apprenticeships, as well as to industry on training reforms.
For more information, visit the Rural Skills Australia website
Agrifood Careers
'Agrifood' is the name given to the Australian employment sector that is involved with food, fibre and animal production and manufacture.
It is closely alligned with the environment sector as Agrifood depends on the sustainability of natural resources.
The range of careers in agrifood is not retricted to those typically associated with working on a farm, but also encompass high-tech sciences and international business.
To explore the array of modern farm careers, visit the Agrifood Careers website
- Preview Memorandum of Understanding on Education & Training (PDF 181.3 kb)
Agreed on 17 July 2007, the NFF joined with the Minerals Council of Australia and the Australian Government to address the chronic need for skilled labour in regional areas, aimed at attracting, training and retaining employees and develop sustainable regional communities...
Primary Industries Education Foundation
The National Farmers' Federation (NFF) is a founding member, and driving force behind the creation, of the Primary Industries Education Foundation (PIEF) - a not-for-profit company formed to provide stimulating, factual and educationally-relevant materials about modern agriculture for primary and secondary schools.
Through 2006-09, the NFF was instrumental in bringing together agricultural groups, educators, peak bodies and the Australian Government to pioneer this national resource to meet the educational needs of schools, teachers and students that transcend state-based curricula.
Farmers recognise the classroom must be a forum for informed discussion and debate, where information is factual and the intellectual rigour underscoring it, is paramount.
In this regard, the NFF has been, and remains, adamant that the PIEF must be independent to ensure teachers, students and parents can have confidence in the information, materials and resources provided and/or endorsed by the PIEF.
The PIEF is dedicated to raising the profile and awareness of modern farming practices among students to foster greater understanding and appreciation of farming's relevance to the everyday lives of Australians, and to encourage more students to consider agricultural-related careers.
Information on how to become a member of the PIEF is available in the Proposal for Membership (below). For more information on the PIEF, contact:
Mr Cameron Archer
Chair
Primary Industries Education Foundation
T: (02) 4939 8812
E:
Mr Ben Stckwin
Executive Manager
Primary Industries Education Foundation
E:
For more information visit the Primary Industries Education Foundation website
FarmDay
The National Farmers' Federation (NFF) is a proud supporter of FarmDay – a national initiative that sees farmers throw open their gates to a city family for a day in May of breaking down barriers to metropolitan understanding about modern farm practices.
FarmDay 10 provided a unique hands-on experience and insight for 320 city families, along with the ability to answer all those “where does that come from?” and “why do they do that?” questions – dispelling myths in the process.
With many Australian farmers concerned about the perception of their sector in metropolitan mindsets, FarmDay is their chance to be actively involved in turning misconceptions around.
The NFF is pressing the case for modern farming and is already getting results. Independent market research shows that metropolitan perceptions of farming have improved dramatically.
There is much greater understanding and awareness of modern farming as environmentally friendly and responsible, widespread recognition that farmers “do things differently today” and that the sector is ultra-efficient, technologically-advanced and internationally-competitive.
But the NFF’s research also shows there is a gap in many people’s understanding regarding “what” modern farming is doing to achieve these successes and “how”. What better way than to demonstrate it first-hand to people during FarmDay?
Fun, Friendship & Understanding
The FarmDay theme is ‘fun, friendship and understanding’ and farmers from all over Australia should embrace the opportunity to interact with city families and provide fun, educational tours around their properties to explain the inner workings of modern farming.
There are always loads of questions to answer – and not just from children. The more farmers that take part, the greater chance of correcting misunderstandings, while also showing why Australian farmers are renowned the world-over for their clean, green, safe and high quality produce.
Survey results show that city people leave farms with not only a greater understanding of how modern Australian farms operate, but more aware of the role farming plays in their daily lives.
The FarmDay experience is completely free. Host farmers and their guests are matched together based on mutually relevant criteria, such as:
- the distance families are willing to travel to get to the farm,
- the ages of any children, and
- any special interests - FarmDay organisers will try to accommodate requests for the type of farm city familes would like to visit.
Registration is available online, via the FarmDay website.
Ollie's Island
The Ollie's Island program is designed for middle year students, though the content is relevant and stimulating to a wide cross-section of the community - youth and adult, alike.
It is an interactive edu-tainment program that explores sustainable production and consumption from a uniquely Australian perspective.
Overview
The objective of the program is to reconnect consumers to the environmental, social and economic impacts of their consumption. It encourages behavioural change by helping users to:
- develop an understanding and appreciation of where everything they eat, drink, use and wear comes from,
- identify their own role within chains of production and consumption,
- understand the outcomes of their own consumptive behaviours,
- recognise their powerful influence as consumers and as global citizens, and
- develop the knowledge and skills to make environmentally and socially responsible decisions and to take positive action within their own homes, schools and communities.
The Ollie's Island program is proudly supported by the National Farmers' Federation (NFF), along with a unique group of government and industry organisations, all of whom have contributed financially and technically to the development of the program and are supporting the distribution, dissemination and promotion of the program across Australia.
Story Mode
The Story Mode is a series of animated misadventures, following Ollie and his mates as they come to discover more about the world around them, including Australian agriculture.
The 10 story episodes introduce the key issues of the program in a comic and contemporary way, with engaging characters and storylines that help to forge a personal connection between the user and the program content.
Activity Mode
The Activity components of the program guide the user through an exploration of the social and environmental issues surrounding resource production and consumption.
For example, users will have to manage a 'virtual' farm sustainably, source numerous raw materials to produce a block of chocolate, as well as explore the various decisions, choices and issues farmers face on a day-to-day basis.
The activities employ challenging gameplay and a high degree of interactivity to encourage creative thinking.
E-Book
The E-Book is a searchable encyclopaedia on the CD-ROM to help research and complete Ollie's Island activities.
It is a comprehensive reference source that supports and supplements the activity-based content.
It contains information, photos and video footage on the key issues of sustainability, agriculture and land management, biodiversity, energy, waste and water.
It also investigates key Australian industries, vital to sustainable production, including dairy, fibre, field crops, fisheries, forestry, horticulture, meat and livestock, and the minerals industries.
Case Studies
The Case Studies section of the program showcases how real Australian companies, industry groups and government bodies are applying the principles of sustainability within their daily operations.
The role modern Australian farming plays features prominently throughout the Ollie's Island program, covering all modes of the program, the extensive E-Book and a key Unit of Work for teachers and students dedicated to Agriculture and Land Management.
Educator's Section
The Educator's section of the program outlines a range of teaching methodologies for incorporating the Ollie's Island program into classroom activities.
It has been developed using the latest in educational pedagogy and can be used in all state educational systems throughout Australia.
The resources below (see download files) resources from the Ollie's Island program illustrate how it can be applied by teachers:
- How to Use the Ollie's Island Program - is a guide to using the program in classroom activities.
- Unit of Work: Agriculture and Land Management - detail a step-by-step lesson guide for this topic from the Ollie's Island program.
Further, the Ollie's Island website supports the content of the CD-ROM. Users of the website can find additional program information, best practice examples of how to use the program in classroom activities, and the latest news of Ollie in schools and communities across Australia.
The Ollie's Island website is updated on a regular basis with news of government, industry and educational developments as they relate to the content of the program.
Feedback on both the Ollie's Island CD-ROM and website is welcome, and can be submitted through an online form at this site.
How Does It Work?
The Ollie's Island CD-ROM has been developed as a classroom resource, as a demonstration tool for community education programs, and as a stand-alone edu-tainment program for home use.
The CD-ROM has been cross-platformed for use on both PC and Mac computers, and starts automatically when inserted into the CD-ROM drive.
From the Main Menu, users can choose the Story Mode to follow the program's narrative around Ollie's virtual island.
Once each episode has been viewed, the user is presented with a number of tasks based on the episode theme. When all of these tasks have been completed, the user is given a code to unlock the next episode.
The user can return to the story episodes at any time by entering the appropriate codes. When the user has completed all episodes they will also have completed every activity in the program.
Users can also choose the Activity Mode to navigate their own way around the program content.
The user may choose to follow a learning pathway based on one of the thematic issues or industries covered in the program, or they may choose to open all pathways to access all activity content.
How Do I Get Ollie's Island?
For a copy of the Ollie's Island program, visit the online shop at the Ollie's Island website (see link below) or contact:
Jane Stewart
Sustain Ability International
PO Box 75
Camberwell Victoria 3124
Australia
Phone: (03) 9817 7722
Fax: (03) 9817 1466
E-mail:
For more on the program, visit the Ollie's Island Website.
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