The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has identified TAFE NSW-trained young people as critical in ensuring the booming agriculture industry has the workforce to meet future demand.
A Tarcutta teen has decided to pursue an education in agriculture and wool classing despite growing up on the family’s 5000-acre livestock farm.
Hamish McLure, 17, has credited TAFE NSW with giving him the job-ready skills, experience and a deeper insight into the future of managing a farm business.
The next-generation agriculture leader turned to the TAFE NSW Primary Industries Centre to give him the practical skills to take his prospects to a new level, undertaking a Certificate IV and Diploma of Agriculture and a Certificate IV in Wool Classing.
“While I’ve grown up on the property, there was still a lot I couldn’t learn there and TAFE NSW has been amazing,” Hamish said.
“It’s really helped me with the business side of farming, the accounting and bookkeeping mainly.
“It’s also given me more technical skills and helped me understand the science behind what we do.”
Tarcutta teen Hamish McLure is forging a successful path in the ag industry thanks to TAFE NSW. Photo: TAFE NSW.
Hamish represents the next generation of farming professional who has grown up tasting success as a cattle judge from a young age.
The teen with farming in his DNA has won a swag of titles for cattle judging including the interbreed champion heifer at last year’s Sydney Royal Show.
Hamish will eventually take over his family’s property management.
“I love livestock, it’s in my blood and it’s just a matter of time until I return to the family farm for a career,” he said.
TAFE NSW Primary Industries Centre head teacher of agriculture Rob Harris said Hamish is a great example of how TAFE NSW could help fast-track careers on the land.
“It’s not just about getting a qualification, it’s about the hands-on, practical skills to make a running start into the industry,” Rob said.
“In Hamish’s case, it’s also an opportunity to learn things like wool classing that could help him earn an off-farm income when times are tough.
“It’s such an exciting time to be entering the agriculture industry and TAFE NSW is at the forefront of training the next generation of farming professionals.”
Rob said the TAFE NSW Primary Industries Centre offered a range of agriculture courses for semester two from July, including the Certificate IV in Agriculture, Diploma of Agriculture and Certificate IV in Wool Classing.
It comes as agriculture continues to boom locally, with strong commodity prices and seasonal conditions. With that success comes a growing skills gap and TAFE NSW is ideally positioned to help local young people and career changers fill that gap.
The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has identified TAFE NSW-trained young people like Hamish as critical in ensuring the booming agriculture industry has the workforce to meet future demand.
The NFF Roadmap outlines its vision to grow the workforce by 25 per cent over the next decade.
Loading ...
