LEADAg is an agricultural education and training program to boost introductory agricultural training in regional Queensland. The program was developed and facilitated by CHRRUP, a community-owned, Central Queensland based profit-for-purpose organisation dedicated to advancing rural communities through partnerships and delivering a mix of products, services, and programs.
The LEADAg program addresses the lack of opportunity for young people to gain practical, hands-on training and skills to make them employable. These young people will receive hands-on, practical training supported by industry mentors to provide work ready skills. Not only will they benefit from the skills development but will also build the confidence and capacity to choose a career in the agricultural industry.
The pilot program was held in Emerald in April 2022, and welcomed 10 students from almost 70 applicants across Queensland to the region to complete the week-long program.
Former CHRRUP CEO Simone Parker said she was proud of the event her organisation was able to offer.
“Our staff, mentors and students have all made this event a success and I can confidently say the students left with new skills that will make them really employable in the ag industries,” she said.
“Not only that, I think many of them have a renewed sense of passion for the industry because we have been able to showcase lots of really exciting jobs that they could pursue.”
Due to the success of the LEADAg pilot program, CHRRUP and other industry stakeholders have joined forces to expand the program for 2023. The new outline of the program will see students complete three one-week training blocks across Central Highlands and Central West Queensland. The expanded program will allow students and mentors more time to cover the fundamental skills and provide further knowledge about the key aspects of agriculture.
The LEADAg program will continue to be packed with sessions run by CHRRUP staff, local trainers and industry mentors on a range of topics, including farm safely, first aid, fencing, pasture management, biosecurity and cropping production as well as livestock handling and husbandry.
Applications for the 2023 program have officially closed and the interest from young people across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria was overwhelming. There was a total of 135 applications with only 12 positions for the program. This significant oversubscription shows that there is a great need for training programs in the future.
If you would like to learn more about the program visit the LEADAg page on the CHRRUP’s website – www.chrrup.org/leadag.
The LEADAg pilot course was funded by the Queensland Agricultural Workforce Network an initiative of the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Comments