The Ballarat Grammar community gathered recently to launch an exciting new program that is forming part of the school's agriculture elective course for year 10.
The AgriFutures Startup.Business entrepreneurial learning in action program is challenging Ballarat Grammar students to solve real industry problems by creating businesses of their own.
Ballarat Grammar is one of seven schools across Australia to receive part-sponsorship to run the program, designed to take students on an immersive course into the entrepreneurial startup environment.
Students will meet agricultural innovators and entrepreneurs, researching and developing business ideas to solve some of the challenges facing the Australian agriculture industry.
The program has been developed and supported by startup.business, a company designing practical education for aspiring entrepreneurs, with part funding from the federal government's AgriFutures Australia Entrepreneurial Learning in Action program.
Agriculture teacher Matt Dickinson said the program builds on existing learning skills and a personal interest in and connection to agriculture.
"Changes in technology, markets and climate mean the agricultural sector today must be just as innovative, or more innovative than, other industries such as the manufacturing or service sectors," he said.
"The students are gaining confidence and resilience, realising that if they take action and are persistent, they can have an important impact on a large scale."
The course culminates in a pitch competition, when students present their business ideas to a panel of judges.
Headmaster Adam Heath said the involvement of key community members, business leaders and stakeholders was needed to encourage young people to see that they can be entrepreneurial.
"The program is strengthening school and community engagement through great partnerships, including excursions and mentoring," Mr Heath said.
"We are helping to enrich the learning experience for our students and, in turn, making positive contributions to the community."
Liz Jackson, education and program director at Startup.business, said the program shows young people how the skills and mindset of entrepreneurs can help them to solve big issues, as well as create their own jobs in the future.
"The students' passions and interests are embedded in the context of opportunity, change, uncertainty and action to foster the entrepreneurial mindset," she said.
"It's so important to encourage Australian students to solve some of the major challenges facing the agricultural industry"
