Students at Seymour College and Assumption College Kilmore were introduced to the world of agriculture earlier this month, with visits from CQUniversity Australia that delivered programs to improve student perception of agriculture careers.
Since May, Seymour College students have undertaken the Raising Aspirations in Career and Education Goulburn, RACE – a program funded by the Secondary School Agricultural Fund through Agriculture Victoria that targets secondary schools in the Goulburn Murray region.
RACE Goulburn, an initiative between CQUniversity and Goulburn-Murray Local Learning and Employment Network, provides agricultural education to classrooms and connects schools with industry representatives to inspire agriculture careers in the region.
The RACE Goulburn project works to address a key outcome of Shepparton Education Plan 2022 to reduce youth disengagement from employment in the region and promote opportunities in exploring STEM agriculture careers.
Through the program, Seymour students explored STEM careers in agriculture through an agri-tech roadshow, a food and fibre industry school partnership excursion, and a food and fibre industry school partnership incursion with industry representatives sharing their knowledge in the classrooms.
The students also had Zoom call-ins with representatives from Australia Pork Limited, Poultry Hub and in-person visits from Murray Dairy, Australian Wool Institute and Koala Cherries.
Meanwhile at Assumption College Kilmore, the agri-tech education and extension team at CQUniversity introduced their new project for schools – Cultivating Futures: Engaging Secondary School Students in the World of Agriculture.
Students had an eventful day, starting off with a visit to McIvor Farm Foods where students were given a full tour of the farm and an introduction to agriculture protection, followed by a session from Turosi Farms to discuss the chicken production, and careers within the poultry industry.
