Engaging secondary students in agricultural careers

A group of students in school uniforms stand at a wooden table, writing on paper and examining jars with different materials, as part of a rural development activity. Some look focused while others observe their work, with adults watching in the background.

Project overview

The Cultivating the Next Generation project aims to help teachers and career advisors provide accurate and high-quality advice to secondary students about the diverse career opportunities in agriculture.

The project was funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, recognising the future workforce is dependent on the next generation seeing agriculture as an employer of choice, and critical to this is the role educators play in encouraging students towards a career in agriculture.

Led by AgriFutures Australia with CQUniversity Australia completing the research and national outreach, Stage 1 of the project aimed to better understand educators’ perceptions and knowledge regarding the agricultural industry and careers in agriculture, offering valuable insights into the perspectives and challenges faced by classroom teachers, career advisors, and school leadership.

Stage 2 of the project developed, delivered and evaluated the five resources recommended in the Stage 1 findings.

  1. Curriculum-aligned lessons for five subject areas including Agriculture, Science, Food Technology, Business, and Digital Technology;
  2. 20 video case studies of industry ambassadors showcasing the diverse range of jobs in agriculture;
  3. Industry incursions and excursions across every state and territory that involved 19 schools, 514 students and 35 teachers;
  4. Work placement guides for industry, schools and students to assist with organising valuable work placements for students;
  5. In person and online professional development workshops that delivered training to 247 educators to increase their confidence to promote careers in agriculture.

Each resource was trialled through a national outreach program designed to enhance Year 9-12 students’ and educators’ knowledge and perceptions of the numerous agricultural career opportunities across Australia.

Three young women in matching dark jackets and pants stand outdoors on a sunny day, smiling and talking together about agriculture. Trees, a dirt path, and parked vehicles are in the background.

New resources to help cultivate the next generation of agricultural workers

Resources for schools

A group of students in blue uniforms gathers around a table outdoors, listening to an instructor discuss research near greenhouses and plants under a shaded area on a sunny rural day.

Agri-adventure: Work placement navigator for schools

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A group of people sit in wooden chairs facing a small panel of presenters in a warmly lit room. A woman discusses rural development while others listen, and a screen displays a presentation slide with charts and text.

Teachers guide to the Cultivating Futures project

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Several students in matching white and black shirts stand around a large blue tank filled with water and many small fish, observing the aquatic environment in an industrial indoor setting, showcasing a rural Australia educational experience.

Lesson: Careers in Agriculture - Digital Technology

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Resources for industry

A group of students in blue uniforms gathers around raised planting beds with leafy plants inside a greenhouse, listening to an instructor explaining plant development and its importance for sustainable agriculture in Australia.

Agri-adventure: Work placement navigator for industry

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A group of people in hats and casual clothes stands on a dirt path in a dry grassy field in Australia, listening to a person speak about chicken meat research. Farm equipment and a blue sky with scattered clouds are visible in the background.

Agri-adventure: industry at-a-glance work placement navigator

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Resources for students

A person holds a pen and a printed checklist showing a photo of tractor tires and machinery, ready for inspection or maintenance in rural Australia, standing outdoors on a dirt surface.

Agri-adventure: Work placement navigator for students and parents

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Reports

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Cultivating futures: Engaging secondary school students in the world of agricultural careers

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A group of students in blue jackets listens to an instructor speaking in a rural grassy field, with trees and agriculture equipment visible in the background under a cloudy sky.

Cultivating the next generation: the role of school-based educators in promoting agricultural careers

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Contact

Abbey O’Callaghan
Manager, Workforce Delivery
AgriFutures Australia

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