Within six weeks of completing Dairy Australia’s 2014 Dairy Manufacturing Scholarship Program all four new graduates have gained employment in the manufacturing industry.
During February to April 2014, over nine weeks, Mathew Boyd, Ruby Smith, Rebekah Sullivan and Brooke Smith trained with some of Australia’s leading dairy manufacturers as part of the scholarship program.
The four new graduates spent up to five days at the factories of sponsoring companies Murray Goulburn, Parmalat, Warrnambool Cheese and Butter, Fonterra, Lion Food and Drinks, Bega and Barossa Cheese where they learnt directly from dairy manufacturing experts.
The program also included industry specific training through the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia (NCDEA) and concluded at Dairy Australia in April, where the graduates made impressive oral presentations on what they had learnt from the program and their career aspirations to 40 industry guests.
Rebekah Sullivan who completed a Bachelor of Applied Science in Food Technology gained employment as a Technical Officer at Harry & Larry’s Ice Cream within two weeks of completing the scholarship program.
“I received notification of the position by email from one of the Directors from Harry & Larry’s Ice Cream the day after the conclusion of the scholarship program,” Rebekah said.
“The scholarship is a great opportunity to network with industry professionals, enhance and build on knowledge from university as well as provide an excellent bridging transition between university and full-time employment.”
After completing the scholarship program, Food Science and Technology graduate Mathew Boyd applied for a yoghurt maker position at Five:am, an organic yoghurt manufacturer based in Carrum Downs.
“The position was posted on Seek, I applied, and received a job interview the next day. Then the following week I started work,” Mathew said.
“The scholarship has given me a good overview into the basic and not so basic aspects of producing dairy products from milk … It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to gain insight into a great area of Australia’s manufacturing industry.”
Originally from Tasmania’s Tamar Valley, Food Science and Nutrition graduate Ruby Smith, is now working as a Quality Assurance Lab Technician at Tatura Milk’s infant formula canning facility, based in Derrimut.
“I was approached by the head of Human Resources for Bega/Tatura, who I had met at the Dairy Australia final presentation day,” Ruby said.
“He sent me an email describing the job, and asked me to send through my resume if I was interested.”
Brooke Smith, who graduated with a Bachelor of Food and Nutrition with a major in Food Science, is now working as a Regulatory Administration Support Officer at IMCD, a multinational company involved in the marketing of food ingredients.
“The scholarship program is well worth doing and will take you 10 steps above other graduates," Brooke said.
“I thoroughly enjoy regulatory work and learning about all the licenses we must attain and protocols we must follow.”
The scholarship program, which offers four new graduates and diploma holders an opportunity to be trained in the relevant aspects of dairy manufacturing, has been held annually since 2012.
While there is no guarantee of a job at the end of the scholarship training, to date, the program has an 80 per cent success rate in attracting and retaining new graduates in the dairy industry.
The scholarship program aims to attract young people into the dairy industry, Dairy Australia program manager Dr Mani Iyer said .
Forty-two graduates applied for the 2014 program and the judging panel had a challenging task of selecting the four winners based on their academic excellence, work experience, and passion for the dairy industry.
Applications for the 2015 scholarship program are expected to open in October 2014. To be eligible for the program, applicants must have a science-based qualification such as engineering, agriculture, nutrition or science at a degree or diploma level, as well as previous work experience in a food or related industry and a passion for the dairy industry.
Source: Dairy Australia
