MIA AG InspirationsCamp

Monday - Thursday 13th -16th Oct

RAEAEducation Alliance

Riverina Agricultural

2014

Our Gravity-fed Irrigation System

- the life-blood of the MIA

, its efficiency, and it's importance to our economy

and the food chain is the

,

as does the first, being

The other disciplines being showcased to students are:

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MIA AG Inspirations

A program providing the opportunity for students across the MIA to be inspired by the industryin our region, the people driving those industries, and the career pathways emanating fromthe food and fibre industries. It is based on 3 specific insights to identify students strengths,passions and abilities, and to create awareness of the food and fibre sectors throughobservations and conversations.

It is an Employer-led ‘industry specific’ cluster-model based on the national Work Inspirationsprogram and tailored to showcase industries in our region

Aims

MIA AG Inspirations will inspire students to engage in careers in, and emanating from Foodand Fibre industries, particularly those in our region. This will assist to address the emergingnational skills shortage in Agriculture, and help Education to engage more with the Food andFibre industries.

Addressing several factors as identified in the Pratley Review, it will assist Agriculture toultimately attract young people, overcome some perceptions, and allow Industry to engagewith students early.

Steering Committee Made up of Industry and Education representatives

DatesMonday, October 13�� - Thurs 16�� (Tuppal option on 17�� if funding allows)Preliminary day 8/10/14 - up to 16 schools via Access Video ConferenceWrap/Presentation day - date TBC

Program

Preliminary day - Inductions, Industry videos, Personality Profiling, Careers Happen IndustrytalksMonday 13/10/14 - Farm Field Day at Binya - The Primary Business of ProductionTue-Thur 14-16�� - Industry visits to sites in Griffith and Leeton areasPresentation Day - students report to Industry

Disciplines Covered The Importance of Irrigation Water and our gravity-fed system to Agri-Business, Plant,Animal, Food Processing, and Mechanical, Structural and Technical systems and practices

No of Students Up to 100 students from 16 regional (cross-sectoral) high schools

Accommodation Preference to camp students at Murrumbidgee Rural Studies Centre (Murrumbidgee College)and the immediate vicinity, if funding allows.

Transport 5 x 20 seater buses5 x rotational on-site visits to various host employers daily

FundingIndustry sponsorship much needed and welcome - tax deductibleSome funding received; more funding required - camping is the major cost; buses next.Student fee: $100/head

Meals Breakfast and Evening meals included in Accommodation costLunches - some employers hosting lunch/BBQ; offers welcome (and tax deductible)

Risk Assessments DPI/Tocal (working in conjunction with industry to ensure all compliance issues covered) willdo Risk Assessments and deliver Induction on behalf of all host employers

Industry Workshop Businesses invited to an Industry Workshop which explains AG Inspirations program -structured for Consistency in Diversity; Employer Workbooks provided

Feedback & Evaluation Built-in evaluations for Students, Schools and Employers; will use ARS if students all at Yanco

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MIA AG Inspirations CampMonday - Thursday 13th -16th October, 2014

Summary

Students from across the Murrumbidgee region in Years 9-11 will be given the opportunity to participatein a 6-7 day AG Inspirations camp showcasing the Food & Fibre industry within our region, and theextensive range of career pathways and opportunities spanning Agriculture.

The MIA AG Inspirations Steering Committee hope to camp 100 students from 16 high schools across thisregion, which is to be held under the Riverina Agricultural Educational Alliance (RAEA) banner¹. RAEAseeks to address the emerging national skills shortage in Agriculture, support a more collaborative andintegrated approach between schools and industry, and highlight career opportunities in the Food andFibre sectors and their associated industries. Students will access this through a competitive process²,and will be required to pay a fee of $100.

Based on the Ag Inspirations model piloted in Queensland in 2013, each “camp” involves studentsexploring the three Work Inspiration (WI)© Insights:

¹ See RAEA brochure p 10-11² See Student Application Form p 9

Insight 1 – All about Me Exploring skills, discovering passions and abilities, and guiding futurechoices

Students complete a personality profile, and at some stage through thecamp/action days, they get a one-on-one 15 minute interview withpeople from industry, who will discuss/interview them on the basis oftheir interests; what their personality profile was, and what pathwayswould be available to suit that person's interest/skill-set/personality intheir industry

Insight 2 – Behind the Scenes Researching the industry including  site visits, observations,demonstrations and conversations

Students will be exposed to what happens in different industries, andinspired to contemplate careers they hadn’t previously thought of

Insight 3 – Careers Happen Researching industry related careers and working with industryprofessionals to grasp the range of pathways

Industry people will give a run-down to students on their careerpathway, so that students understand that careers are not just a single,straight-forward path.

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A video of the AG Inspirations national pilot program run in Qld last year may be viewed at this link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqCrkbVJp3k (12 mins); and the national Work Inspirations pilot video (12mins) can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-AgGJAJ3kQ

Schools InvolvedHigh school students from schools in the GetSet footprint have been invited. This includes students fromschools in the following towns:

This encompases 16 High Schools, which includes two students from Ariah Park. Technically it isn’t inour footprint, but they’re students who are in the same Central School Ag Science cluster class.

The Camp OutlineThere will be one preliminary day set aside on Oct 8�� for inductions, research, completing a personalitytest, some industry video-clips, and some Career Conversations with industry people. It will be avideo-conference linkup with all schools/students on this day, rather than students presenting at acentral place.

▪ This will be followed by 4 intensive days of industry site visits (Oct 13-16��), beginning with aField day - The Primary Business of Production - on a Binya mixed farming property.

▪ If funding allows, we may take the students to the Tuppal Food and Fibre Festival on Friday 17��,as it would be a fitting finale to the previous four days. The Tuppal committee are keen to havestudents involved, and as a result, they have waived admittance fees for students andaccompanying adults. (The Murray Ag Inspirations camp (2 days) also concludes at Tuppal.)

▪ Finally, there will be a “wrap” day a week or two later, where students present theirreports/projects (the project is a requirement), and receive their participation certificates. (Thenature of this is yet to be decided on by the Steering Committee.)

The Steering Committee feels strongly that students should be made aware of the importance of Waterand the Irrigation System feeding the MIA. Water is extremely important to our regional economy; ourtowns and industry have been structured accordingly, and have grown and prospered because of theforesight of an earlier generation, which resulted in the gravity-fed scheme which delivers our preciouswater today.

▪ Griffith (3) ▪ Tullibigeal ▪ Barellan▪ Hillston ▪ West Wyalong ▪ Narrandera▪ Lake Cargelligo ▪ Ardlethan ▪ Coleambally▪ Ungarie ▪ (Ariah Park) ▪ Leeton (3)

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Themed Disciplines

Consequently, in order to give students a thoroughly inspiring overview of as many food and fibreindustries as possible in such a short time (without them having to choose something specific), wehave broken down the areas which are important to understand both in isolation and interactively.

Whilst not yet fully decided, it is likely that the projects the students will need to complete will relateto Water and it’s importance to one or more of the following disciplinary groups.

A disection of the Themed Disciplinary Groups for MIA AG Inspirations is attached, but in brief:

WATER, its efficiencies in use and delivery, and it's importance to our economy and the foodchain is the over-riding theme of the camp, and flows through all other protocols, as doesthe first, being Agri-Business. The other disciplines being showcased to students are:

Animal Practice

Plant Practice

Food Products and Processing

Mechanical, Structural and Technical Systems

The Camp Structure

The program has been planned, but not yet finalised.

An extensive program for the camp is currently being firmed up and will include industryvisits, interactive activities, and networking with local professionals and industry experts.

So far, business/industry people who have been approached have been very enthusiasticand prepared to be most accommodating. In light of the Pratley Review¹, this isencouraging, as it needs to be a partnership between Education and Industry in order toaccommodate a balanced view of careers in the food and fibre industries, and to inspirestudents to make decisions to become part of a rewarding and worthwhile industry group.

It is hoped to camp students at Murrumbidgee College, or Murrumbidgee Rural StudiesCentre (MRSC), Yanco. Preferably, we would like to camp all of the students together orin the same vicinity so that we can get feedback from the students each evening, and toenable students to socialise and enjoy interacting about the day’s activities.

Students will also be paying $100 each to participate, will need to apply², and sign asmall “contract”, as part of the Agri-Business protocol.

¹ Prof J Pratley: Review into Agricultural Education & Training in NSW - July 2013² See Student Application Form p 96

The Primary Business of Production - Field Day

The Field Day at Binya - the Primary Business ofProduction - will set the scene for the rest of the week,showing where it all begins: on a farm. Students willunderstand some of the complexities of running a farmbusiness, and the cutting edge technology which isavailable and being used now. They will get an insightinto the role irrigated water plays, understand how astorage dam is environmentally and fiscallyadvantageous, talk about stock and cropping, genetics,soil nutrition, veterinary pathways, and a host of otheragriculturally relevant issues pertaining to whole farmmanagement. We have some great surprises in store,which will impact students and ensure the day is amemorable one.

2014 Taste Riverina Festival

MIA AG Inspirations is registered asan event with Taste Riverina, underboth the Educational andInspirational sections.

RAEA - Riverina Agricultural EducationAlliance

RAEA is a strategic partnership promoting AgriculturalEducational and Career pathways. RAEA supports a morecollaborative approach between schools and industry inthe delivery of agricultural programs, and aims toaddress the emerging national skills shortage inAgriculture. The aims are consistent with addressingmany issues highlighted in the Pratley Review.

The particular issue was concern about theinability of the agricultural sector to attractnew people, particularly young people.This required the Review to look moreclosely at the community perceptions ofagriculture, the career advice to schoolstudents and the workforce agenda acrossall aspects of the sector.

Several factors became key components ofthe Review:

○ The lack of awareness by students aboutfood and fibre

○ The perceptions about agriculture andthe opportunities therein

○ The importance of early engagement withstudents about key issues

○ Concerns about the teaching of scienceand therefore agriculture in the primaryschools and the lack of agriculture inabout two-thirds of secondary schools

○ The need for provision of quality teach-ing and learning materials to schools

○ The need for industry support in ensuringquality education and training occurs

Prof J PratleyExec Summary, Review into Agricultural Education & Trainingin NSW (July 2013)

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What’s So Inspiring?

Notwithstanding the absolutely inspiring line-up of activities, there are some extra-special surprises in thepipeline, although some are being kept secret.

However, the Primary Business of Production on-farm field day will set the scene for the week’s activities.Students will get a primary overview of where it all begins, including a good look at a substantial storagedam, and grounded information about the importance of water, our irrigation system, cropping, soilnutrition, technology, livestock, and the scale of agri-business that mixed farming is - and that’s aside fromthe other surprises in store!

It will be followed with several more days of site visits to our region’s leading food and fibre producingbusinesses, which cannot fail to open students minds to the endless possibilities of careers in Agriculture,and assist business to connect with, and influence the future workforce. MIA AG Inspirations will help toaddress those things highlighted in the Pratley Review¹, such as student’s lack of awareness about food andfibre; their perceptions of agriculture and the opportunities; allowing industry to engage with studentsearly, and ultimately attract them to an Agricultural career pathway, whilst supporting quality informationand education.

I am so thankful to be working with such a “can-do” committee, and feel certain our MIA AG Inspirationsprogram will be a success; and something that is such a positive influence on students that they rememberit for a good many years. It is a wonderful opportunity for industry to showcase the food and fibre industry,and the Steering Committee and I would certainly welcome it if you too, have a similar vision, and wish toactively participate.

Jeanine Bird

Partnership Broker,GetSet IncOn behalf of theMIA AG Inspirations Steering Committee

¹ Exec Summary, Review into Agricultural Education & Training in NSW (July 2013)

GOVERNMENT RECOMMENDATION 16

The NSW Department of Primary Industries’ ResearchCentres establish an annual forum with regional agricultureteachers to explore and plan activities to enrich the teach-ing of agriculture and primary industries in regional schoolsand vocational education and training settings.

GOVERNMENT RECOMMENDATION 17

Where opportunities exist, schools move over time tooffer Certificate III in Primary Industries for thosestudents seeking employment in agriculture.

Prof Jim Pratley: RecommendationsReview into Agricultural Education and Training in NSW (July 2013)

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RAEAEducation Alliance

Riverina Agricultural

Student Application Form

MIA AG Inspirations Camp: Monday - Thursday 13th -16th OctName: ________________________________________________________________________________

Year: ___________ School: ______________________________________________________________

Why do you wish to be included in this program?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Do you have an existing interest in a career in Agriculture? o Yes o NoPlease give further details for your answer

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

I am interested in a career that will allow me to do the following (tick all that apply):

Work in Agri-Business Work with Animals Work with Plants/Cropping/Horticulture

Work with Technology Work in Water/Irrigation Industry Work in Agricultural Research

Improve the Environment Work on a Farm Work Inside Work Outside

Work by Myself Work in a Team Work in an Industry somehow associated with Agriculture

Please indicate your interest in the following subjects with an “x”: (if you don’t study the subject, please cross it out)

I really enjoy it I like it It’s OK I guess

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1ScienceBusinessAgricultureMathsEnglishIT

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