The Fast Track program, run by Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and supported by AgriFutures Australia, sees industry, government and the tertiary education sector collaborating to build the workforce in the thoroughbred industry. The program connects participants with a 12-month traineeship on a stud farm, mixing on-the-job training with formal study to accelerate the flow of new talent to the breeding industry.
Last year, AgriFutures Australia supported two Fast Track placements, connecting two young professionals with leading Australian thoroughbred studs.
Originally from Murray Bridge in South Australia, Fast Track cadet Abi Wheatland always saw herself chasing a career with horses but didn’t know the right career pathway. After seeing the Fast Track Program online, she applied and was accepted into the program, securing a role as a stud groom at Cornerstone in the Barossa Valley.
Experience with her own show horses meant Abi arrived with horse handling skills, but the program soon opened her eyes to the scale of thoroughbred breeding and the opportunities for young talent.
“The first month of my placement was a highlight – spending a month in the Hunter Valley, getting to see Coolmore and Godolphin Studs, and listening to talks from industry leaders,” she said.
“We also did formal learning that is contributing to a Certificate III in Horse Breeding, along with practical courses in first aid, defensive driving, and operating quadbikes and trailers,” she added.
Abi Wheatland
Taking the horse by the reins – Fast Track addressing labour shortages
For many studs, the scarcity of skilled labour has created a real issue over the last few years, putting the sustainability and productivity of an industry worth $1.16 billion annually to the Australian economy.
“Like all farming businesses, Australian thoroughbred stud farms have faced labour shortages. Instead of complaining about it, the industry said people love horses, people love racing and the opportunities in thoroughbred breeding and racing are tremendous, so if we can expose newcomers to it, then they’ll stay in it for life,” said Tom Reilly, CEO of Thoroughbred Breeders Australia.
“We created a program specifically for our industry that combines theory and classroom learning with hands-on experience. Our Fast Track program works because stud farms all over Australia see the value in educating newcomers to the industry.”
Eureka Stud Principal Scott McAlpine said that Fast Track is helping to fill the staffing shortage while also providing the right mix of on-the-job training and formal studies to give cadets the best start to their career.
“Fast Track is something the industry needs. When the trainees go to TAFE as well as working on the farm, it increases their interest in the industry. They are required to do physical work on the farm but they also need to go to TAFE to learn the reasoning behind why we do things a certain way,” he said.
“If they want to make a career out of it, they need the technical information and that’s why TAFE is important.”
