Young People in Primary Industries

With an ageing Australian farm workforce, there are lots of opportunities for young people already in, or wanting to get involved in, primary industries.

There’s more to working in primary industries than just being on the land. Primary industries also need scientists, economists, accountants, advisers, rural journalists and environmental professionals, just to name a few.

This section will provide general information for all young people on how to get involved in primary industries, and will give young people from rural, regional and remote Australia access to information about issues that may affect them.

Here are some links that may help you:

Community Networks and Capacity Building

The changing climate provides both challenges and opportunities for people living and working in rural, regional and remote Australia. Australia’s Farming Future’s Community Networks and Capacity Building, aims to improve the leadership and representative power of young people (as well as Indigenous Australians, women, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds) involved in primary industries, particularly those affected by climate change.

Having a Voice

The Australian Youth Forum (AYF) is an exciting new initiative which enables young Australians to discuss important issues with the Australian Government. The establishment of the AYF shows that the government values the voices and views of young Australians, and their creativity, unique perspectives and capacity to contribute to public debate.

Heywire 2009 gives rural and regional youth a chance to have a voice and share their opinions, ideas and feelings. Entries can be submitted as photos, videos, audio or text for the chance to win a trip to Canberra and participate in a variety of events.

Primary Industries Education Foundation

The Primary Industries Education Foundation is a partnership between government, industry and educators that will encourage students to study agriculture. The foundation will provide students with information on training and career opportunities, and will raise awareness of the valuable contribution primary industries make to our society.

Further information

For more information, call the Australia’s Farming Future hotline on 1800 638 746 or email youth@daff.gov.au


Networks

There are a number of organisations that provide young people involved in primary industries, or living and working in rural, regional and remote Australia, with opportunities to meet other people.

Agri-political organisations

The South Australia Farmers Federation Future Leaders Committee provides opportunities for young South Australians involved in agriculture to gain an insight into the agri-political side of rural industries.

A Victorian Farmers Federation initiative, the Young Agribusiness Professionals (YAPS), provides leadership opportunities for young people within the VFF and agriculture. The group focuses on extending the abilities of young people within the industry, strengthening agriculture’s media image, providing farm ownership opportunities, recruiting youth into the industry and providing them with career opportunities.

The NSW Farmers Association Young Farmers committee seeks to educate, listen, support and interact within a ‘fun’ environment. The Young Farmers Committee not only organise and implement valuable events for young members of the NSW Farmers Association, but also provide links to information and networks which are beneficial for either personal, professional or business development.

Rural Youth Organisations

WA Rural Youth provides educational, cultural and social opportunities for young people living and working in regional or rural areas. WA Rural Youth brings young people together from geographically or socially isolated environments to interact with their peers, as well as participate in skill development sessions.

Rural Youth Organisation of Tasmania—not all members live or work on farms - in many cases the only thing members have in common is that they are young people interested in developing their personal skills and meeting other people.

Victorian Young Farmers Organisation Inc is a community based rural youth group for people in Victoria.

Future Farmers Network is a national organisation with members and events in all states and territories. The network aims to prepare young people in the rural industry for challenges they may face, by providing them with opportunities to participate in personal and professional skill development.

Industry Specific Youth Organisations

The Murray Grey Youth Program is open to all young cattle enthusiasts (25 years and under). The program educates members about beef cattle in a fun and creative environment.

Angus Youth is the youth organisation of Angus Australia. The program involves young cattle enthusiasts 30 years and under. Activities and opportunities include the annual national roundup, judging schools & competitions, ambassadorships, leadership clinics, five international scholarships, numerous state based events and access to Angus Australia services as a junior member.

The Young Irrigation Network was established in late 2001 to identify, develop and network the next generation of community leaders for the irrigation industry.

International Organisations

Here are some international organisations that may interest youth already involved in, or considering to enter primary industries:

Email youth@daff.gov.au

Other

YouthGAS encourages and promotes the sharing of information and awareness for, by and with young Australians. The site provides both young Australians and people working with them, a vast range of local, state, territory, national and international resources, information and opportunities. Check out the rural and regional area for some great resources.


State Government Assistance

State government resources can help young people enter, or get involved in primary industries.

NSW AgStart is a career development scheme for young people entering agriculture and its supporting industries.

Victorian Young Farmers’ Finance Scheme is designed to assist highly qualified youth who want to start farming.

The Tasmanian Government's Young Farmers Interest Rebate Scheme is part of the Sustainable Management of Agricultural Resources in Tasmania (SMART) farming initiative. The scheme is to provide farmers under the age of 40 (who meet eligibility requirements) with an interest rebate on commercial loans to help them enter the industry, expand an existing enterprise, or improve productivity.

Email youth@daff.gov.au


Working in Primary Industries

There are a number of online resources that can help you find employment in primary industries.

Finding a job

Learn what Australian Apprenticeships are, what they involve, and how to find one.

JobNetwork is an Australia-wide network of private and community organisations dedicated to helping you get and keep a job. Find out who your nearest JobNetwork member is to take advantage of this free service.

Australian JobSearch allows you to search through thousands of vacant positions for the perfect job:

  • Put your résumé online and receive automatic notification of jobs that might suit you.
  • In the careers section, find out what you do in certain occupations, what their outlook is and the average salary.
  • In the Australian training section, search for an occupation and the training and education courses available to help you get it.

Graduate Careers provides a range of useful information for anyone with a tertiary qualification who is looking for work. Find out what opportunities are out there, when the closing dates are, and how you might get started.

If you’re a student or a graduate you can use Gradgrad to search for jobs or upload your résumé so employers can search for you, even if you’re still at university.

Career One is a website linked to News Limited publications where you can browse for jobs or post your résumé online.

Use MyCareer to browse for jobs or to find employers hiring in your area. This site is linked with Fairfax publications like The Age.

Now Hiring—Search for jobs, or post your up to date résumé and let employers look for you.

Seek lets you search for jobs, upload your résumé, or get jobs emailed to you.

Positions Vacant allows you to browse for jobs, or get them sent to you via RSS Feed or "jobcast", a variation of podcasting.

CareerJet is a large database of jobs that saves you the trouble of visiting individual recruitment agency and company websites.

Rural Skills Australia provides advice, assistance and training to New Apprenticeships Centres, Job Network members and Registered Training Organisations on Rural New Apprenticeships.

More specific links

DayWork allows you to search for casual, part-time, temporary and other short term employment opportunities, with the option to narrow your search to ‘no skills’ or ‘urgent’.

Harvest Trail gives you the opportunity to see Australia by working the Harvest Trail. Harvest vacancies exist in various parts of Australia and at different times of the year. Use this link to find information about what type of work is available throughout the year.

Training and experience

Study Now provides a searchable database of courses that can be studied in Australia or around the world.

Australian Volunteer Search enables you to search for volunteer positions that can help you gain valuable work experience.

Useful information about jobs and work

Job Guide provides online tools to search for an occupation and find information on what it involves and what you need to do to get it.

Job Outlook provides emails for information on careers and occupations - find out about job prospects, weekly earnings, type of work and other useful occupational information.

Workplace Ombudsman is useful for information about your workplace rights.

Workplace Authority is useful for information about Australia's workplace relations system.

You can find information and statistics on your local labour market through the Labour Market Information Portal

Use CareerChick to check out company profiles for big employers, or to access reading material about women in the workforce.

If you can’t make it to a real careers expo in your area, you might want to try the virtual version. The Virtual Careers Expo is run by the same people as the EOC National Careers and Employment Expo, and gives you access to career information 365 days of the year.

Extra assistance

Australian Workplace has a lot of useful information on government employment programs.

Centrelink support services and programs you may be eligible to access to help you choose a career and find a job.

JobAccess is a one-stop shop for all matters relating to employment of people with disability, including advice for job seekers.

Great advice for young people

myfuture allows you to work through an online profile builder to help you identify your skills and interests, and jobs that might suit you.

YouthCentral offers a range of information and advice on issues like jobs, study, travel, money and events in Victoria.

Year 12 – What Next? Plan your post-school education and training, learn about future work opportunities, and find out where to get help and information.

Student Edge is a site where students in high school and beyond can access useful and relevant information as well as sign up for student discounts.

The Job Guide 2008 site includes hundreds of occupational profiles.

JobJuice is run by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) and helps young Australians who are thinking about their future and looking for work. It’s all about making the complex process of deciding on a career and finding a job a little simpler.

Links for career counsellors

The Australian Association of Career Counsellors is a national organisation of practitioners providing career services. Use the site to find information and resources about careers, career development and the organisation itself.

The Career Industry Council Of Australia is the national representative body of career practitioner organisations. Use this site to access research developments and to stay informed of national issues facing career practitioners.

Email youth@daff.gov.au


Other Assistance

If you’re a young person entering or involved in primary industries, the following scholarship, award, travel and leadership development opportunities may interest you.

Scholarships and awards

Nuffield Australia provides a scholarship scheme for the benefit of the Australian farming community. The scholarship scheme promotes excellence in all aspects of Australian agricultural production, distribution and management.

Coca-Cola Regional Scholarship Program provides scholarships of $2000 available to students enrolled in a tertiary course related to agriculture.

The National Meat Industry Training Advisory Council offers scholarships for people interested in pursuing a career in the meat industry.

The Australian Agriculture College Corporation offers a bursary valued at $3000 for first year students to assist with college fees.

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry offers the Australian Agricultural Industries Young Innovators and Scientists Award which provides funding for young Australians with innovative plans to boost the standard of our rural industries.

The Young Achiever Awards aims to acknowledge, encourage, reward and most importantly promote the positive achievements of young Australians aged between 14 and 27 years.

Woolworths Agricultural Business Scholarship is a 12 day course specifically designed to be practical as well as theoretical. This scholarship provides the chance to apply best practice ideas to real life experiences. This scholarship also provides the opportunity to learn from experts in business management and gain a deeper understanding of how the retail business actually works.

Travel

A Churchill Fellowship is the award of an opportunity through the provision of financial support, to enable Australian citizens from all walks of life to travel overseas to undertake an analysis, study or investigation of a project or an issue that cannot be readily undertaken in Australia.

The International Farm Youth Exchange Program connects with the Australian Rural Exchanges Association (AREA) and meets every two years. Membership is open to anyone who has participated in an exchange program within or outside of Australia. In some states, membership is open to past members of the state body (Rural Youth or Young Farmers), whether they have been on exchange or not!

Leadership Development Opportunities

The Australian Rural Leadership Foundation develops and supports leaders to advance the capability and sustainability of rural Australia.

The Beef Australia Rabobank Young Ambassadors Awards are held every three years and provide young people with the opportunity to test their skills and knowledge on the beef industry. The next award will be presented in early 2012.

Email youth@daff.gov.au

 

Australian Government - Youth Related websites (external links)