Cottoned on to the skills shortage

A pilot training program for the Cotton industry is giving high school students valuable hands-on experience, providing them with a defined career pathway and helping address the skills shortage in this important Agricultural sector.

Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School in the Namoi Valley, NSW, has played an important role in helping develop the Cotton Industry Skills Development Pilot Project, in conjunction with Cotton Australia.  

WHAT DOES THE PROJECT COMPRISE?

Level

For

Cotton Advanced

Manager / Owner

Cotton Intermediate

Supervisor /
Leading Hand

Cotton Basics Skilled Worker

Cotton SeedEntry Point

The school is already running the entry level component of the Project known as 'Cotton Seed'. As part of the Higher School Certificate studies, students spend time on cotton farms, experiencing cotton planting, growing and harvesting first-hand.

Vocational Education teacher, Mr Graeme Harris, says the program enables students in Years 11 and 12 to investigate all aspects of the industry and learn many of the skills involved in the cotton harvest.

"This is an example of cooperation between State and Federal governments, educators and sectors for the cotton industry working together to develop a program which will assist in overcoming the shortage of skilled young people who wish to start a career in this dynamic industry."

"The program has already had a number of wonderful outcomes," explained Mr Harris.

Year 10 students like Peter Osling recently spent a day in Boggabri on a cotton farm.

"We were shown around the farm and by the end of the day we were able to have a go operating some of the machinery," he said.

Along with the entry-level Cotton Seed program, those already working in the industry are also able to gain from the pilot program. Each stage is also aligned and linked to nationally recognised qualificaitons.

Cotton Basics is the next stage of skills development for Cotton Seed graduates once they move into employment, and is conducted as seasonal opportuniteis present.

Cotton Advanced workshops are held for managers and owners to help them attract, train and retain the right workers for their farms.

According to Ralph Leutton, who worked for eight years as Cotton Australia's Program Manager and was involved in the conception of the project, the skills shortage issue has never been more important.

"As an industry, it's important we engage everyone in training, keep people in the region and have a recognised skill set."

The project is an initiative of Cotton Australia with funding support from the Department of Education Science and Training.