![South West Institute of TAFE horticulture teacher Trevor Bullen shows the retreat students how to pot their plant. South West Institute of TAFE horticulture teacher Trevor Bullen shows the retreat students how to pot their plant.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-agfeed/862644.jpg/r0_0_600_400_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
AN innovative south-west Victorian program is introducing rural students to new agricultural career options in their region while also fostering life and social skills.
Subscribe now for unlimited access to all our agricultural news
across the nation
or signup to continue reading
Partnership broker with the Glenelg & Southern Grampians Local Learning & Employment Network Inc Gail Law said the Glenormiston Rural Retreat was held for the second time after a successful pilot last year.
The three-day program involved group exercises at the Country Fire Authority’s Western District training grounds at Penshurst, a bush walk, a self-confidence workshop and advice on consumer affairs.
At South West Institute of TAFE’s Glenormiston campus, the students undertook activities involving dairy cattle, horticulture, horses and halter making.
Students that went on the retreat said they enjoyed the CFA exercises, the bush walk and working with the horses and cattle, but wanted “more action and less talking”.
Baimbridge College Year 9 teacher Heather Ward said she had seen the program improve the students’ confidence and willingness to speak up.
The latest retreat kicked off with a popular mini-Olympics session at the CFA Penshurst training grounds.
“We were all working, staff included, together with people that we didn’t normally work with and that was a great way to start.
“It really set up the whole time and broke down some of those group barriers,” Ms ward said.
She said the program would help the students to see agricultural career alternatives and helped construct a new group dynamic.
“Also it helped foster an understanding and empathy about where other people are, that the journey isn’t always the same.
“I found it really interesting seeing some of the students that I’ve seen on the outer being really involved and that’s great,” she said.
“There are people here who have had a real taste of acceptance.”
Baimbridge College VET in schools co-ordinator Steven de Man said the program’s visit to Glenormiston opened up new avenues in agriculture for the students.
“It has opened up this whole other world that is out there.”
Teacher Kerren Collins said the program gave students a “heads-up” on agricultural career options.
“They get to experience being around animals and people who are really keen about their occupation.
“The students take on responsibilities, the group dynamic changes and they become more self-confident.
“You think how can that happen in three days, but it really does,” she said.
“Because they meld together as a team over two to three days it reinforces what they have experienced.”
South West Institute of TAFE’s agriculture team leader at Glenormiston Rob Graham said the program was an opportunity to introduce agriculture as a career option to the students.
“Agriculture is an industry that has got absolutely wonderful career opportunities in every aspect.
“Two of our students in the last few years are managers on corporate dairy farms on salaries that exceed mine,” he said.
“This region in particular is going to be food bowl of Victoria, if not Australia, in the next 5-10 years.”