168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s has deep connections to the bush. Since its inception, the school has been a leading choice for rural families with the first three students enrolled at the school in 1895 all boarders hailing from Bundaberg, Cairns and Morven. Today, 127 years on, a large contingent of the school’s boarding community comprises daughters of graziers and farmers from rural Queensland, Northern New South Wales, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
While rural families send their daughters to 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s for a city education, more often than not the girls plan to one day return to the land to work and live. In response to this growing trend, 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s has introduced a Certificate III in Agriculture for Years 10 and 11 students to ensure students who are seeking a career in agriculture develop the skills and knowledge to contribute to their local communities or go on to further industry study.
According to Naomi Holley, 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s Head of Faculty – Student Pathways and Futures, the school has seen a significant increase in students wanting to pursue Agriculture studies at a post-school level over the past five years.
“Many of these students come from an agriculture background themselves and are wanting to learn more about the industry and forge a pathway to a career within it.
“This qualification equips students with skills that will not only benefit them at home but will provide them with the capacity to forge a career in the industry for themselves.
“It also lays solid foundations for students to continue with further study, including tertiary studies in Agriculture and Agribusiness,” Naomi said.
Currently, there are five Year 10 and two Year 11 boarding students studying the Certificate III in Agriculture.
One of them is Year 11 boarder Maggie Slack from Glen Morgan, a six-hour drive west of Brisbane: “I would like to one day work in the agricultural sector, and this is a fantastic opportunity to gain skills and knowledge that will open doors for me in the future.”
This qualification has a traineeship attached to it, meaning students put theory into practice through on-the-job training by completing 750 hours of paid work as part of their studies.
Maggie has chosen to complete her traineeship on her family’s 20,000-acre Christmas Creek cattle property, working and learning alongside her parents and grandparents.
“Our family business breeds Charolais cross cattle and during each school holidays I am completing my practical work at home, including mustering, branding, fencing and checking stock waters. A TAFE trainer visits me on the property to provide advice and hands-on guidance as well as assess my practical skills,” Maggie said.
The course can be tailored to suit any working property and so Maggie, for instance, is completing units in a range of different areas, including mustering and moving livestock, operating tractors and motorbikes, castrating livestock and maintaining livestock water supplies.
At school, Maggie completes one 90-minute session each week with her TAFE trainer as well as written theory work for each of her subjects.
Kitty Behrend, also in Year 11, is completing her practical work on her family’s farm just outside of Goondiwindi.
“The main crops on our farm consist of wheat, sorghum, chickpeas and mungbeans. On the holidays, I assist with spraying and planting and also fix anything that is broken or needs maintenance,” Kitty said.
With aspirations to work as a rural nurse, Kitty is using the opportunity to study agriculture at school to further her knowledge of the industry and gain skills that will assist her in securing work during a gap year post school.
“I hope to go up north for a year or two to gain further experience before returning home to further my education in another area such as nursing,” Kitty said.
168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s Principal Ros Curtis said the Certificate III in Agriculture highlights the school’s emphasis on careers and pathways and for providing a diversity of experiences for students.
“Our careers education program is one of the many strengths of the 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s experience as is our personalised approach to tailoring the learning experience for each individual student.
“We support students to find their passions and make the best possible decisions related to their future study and career pathways.
“We do this by exposing students to various opportunities, school-based traineeships, role models, mentors and activities targeted to the specific individual needs of each student,” Ms Curtis said.
This year at 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s, every Year 10 student is completing a Certificate II or III across various industries and 15 Year 11 students are on the portfolio pathway, an non-ATAR option that offers diploma studies and other certificate courses, as well as providing an alternative route to tertiary studies.
Watch Maggie Slack complete her prac work in action on her family property in Glen Morgan.