Growing earn and learn opportunities
AN innovative new training program is opening more careers in agriculture, in a move to create a resilient seasonal horticulture workforce.
Minister for Agriculture, Mary-Anne Thomas, launched the horticulture pilot program at Plunkett’s Orchards in Mooroopna last week. Backed by $600,000 funding from the State Government, the program will be rolled out across key horticulture regions including the Goulburn Valley, Sunraysia, and Gippsland.
Dean Luciani, chairperson of The Apprenticeship Employment Network, explained that each pilot will be tailored to that region’s agricultural industries and that traineeships will look a lot like existing training or apprenticeship programs delivered in other industries.
“[The program] will be looking at Certificate II and III in Horticulture and Agriculture. The three pilot programs are in different demographics, and so here in this region, obviously fruit growing, but in other parts of Victoria there might be more of an agricultural focus.”
“What we’re trying to do is develop best practice in three different demographics, to bring that back together in an assessment of what we think will be a great model moving forward,” said Mr Luciani.
Jason Shields, manager of Plunkett’s Orchards said finding middle-management staff, such as machine operators and supervisors has been difficult, and there are hopes these traineeships will create a clear pathway in agriculture for more local workers.
“I think in the past there weren’t the opportunities that there are now. Now more farms are getting bigger and bigger, so they’re needing more people to do that middle-management stuff, and farmer owner-operators can’t do it all themselves anymore,” said Mr Shields.
“There’s demand for middle-tier workers that can actually end up with a career and not just be picking fruit all day,” Mr Shields said.
“We need to make sure that young people can see that there is an opportunity and a future in horticulture,” said Minister Thomas.
“There are many more jobs in this sector than people know. As an industry, we have to keep making sure that parents and teachers understand the opportunities that are available, and we need to make sure that we’re making this industry more attractive.”
