THE State Government has promised to convene an industry roundtable to tackle the agricultural education crisis.
The roundtable will investigate how to open career pathways into agriculture and promote the success of the industry.
The Government today released the response to the Rural and Regional Committees Inquiry into the capacity of the farming sector to attract and retain young farmers and respond to an ageing workforce.
Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh said the Government was committed to helping industry promote agriculture as an attractive, fulfilling and profitable career for young Victorians.
“Attracting young people into agriculture who will bring new ideas and innovation will be vital to achieving the Coalition Governments goal of doubling Victoria’s food and fibre production by 2030,” Mr Walsh said.
He said the government was committed to working with industry and rural networks to encourage entry to the industry by improved education pathways, supporting positive self promotion of the industry and improving transfer of knowledge between farming generations.
He said the Government would attract more young farmers and improve career pathways by:
- CONVENING a roundtable with heads of industry and a strong youth representation that will be tasked with setting a plan to attract and retain young people in agriculture, including positive industry self-promotion;
- APPOINTING a rural industries careers adviser to work with schools to highlight agricultural career opportunities for students;
- UNDERTAKING a costing study to test the feasibility of establishing specialist schools for agricultural education at years 11 and 12; andFACILITATING a young farmer committee to enhance the links between existing young farmers and rural youth groups at a local, state and national level.
- CONVENING a roundtable with heads of industry and a strong youth representation that will be tasked with setting a plan to attract and retain young people in agriculture, including positive industry self-promotion;
- APPOINTING a rural industries careers adviser to work with schools to highlight agricultural career opportunities for students;
- UNDERTAKING a costing study to test the feasibility of establishing specialist schools for agricultural education at years 11 and 12; andFACILITATING a young farmer committee to enhance the links between existing young farmers and rural youth groups at a local, state and national level.
Source: The Weekly Times http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2012/11/28/551368_politics-news.html
