CAREERS - CHASING YOUR PASSION

A Smart Future in Farming

NOW

In the next ten years

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Career Harvest

Career pathways in agriculture

Stepping Stones to a Great Career

Careers in the NSW Department of Primary Industries

Using LEGO® to showcase careers in Agriculture

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CareerTrackers
A national non-profit with the goal of creating pathways and support systems for Indigenous young adults to attend and graduate from university, with high marks, industry experience and bright professional futures.

Farm Hub

A day in the life of young people who followed their passion into a career in agriculture

careers featured in R.M.williams outback magazine

WA's Future Farm

YOUNG FARMING CHAMPIONS

Agriculture today is a complex web of exciting careers that support food and fibre production and it needs you!

Today’s agribusinesses incorporate all types of exciting career pathways and increasingly attract newcomers and innovators. Engineering, science, IT, commerce and management are all cornerstone skill sets for successful businesses in the growing agriculture sector. As an example, Australia is among the world’s leaders in robotics in the agribusiness sector The new model of agriculture will require a workforce with skills sets that extend well beyond traditional agricultural skills In the research, service and support sectors most of these skills will be delivered by staff without traditional farming background as opportunities and technologies used within agriculture attract new entrants and businesses. Australia will require a pipeline of graduates with capabilities in architecting, designing and analysing data. There will be growth in specialist IT technology and businesses that service these technologies.

What will the new jobs look like?
• Growing e-commerce operations in all agricultural industries will increase opportunities for graduates with specialised skills in on-line marketing and social media.
• Increasing computerisation in food production and distribution systems underscores the need for computer programming and support for specialists for precision agriculture applications.
• Precision agriculture specialists who provide product and services for farmers will be in demand.

Specific Skills required:
• Technological
• Work with robots
• Work with processed data
• Computer sciences
• Advanced machinery, autosteer equipment and drones
• Complex apps
• Environment Skills
• Understanding legislation
• Expertise in circular agriculture
• Knowledge of local ecosystems
• Genetics expertise
• Managerial skills
• Business management
• Innovation management
• Entrepreneurship
• Marketing skills

Potential professional Profile:
• The Geo-engineer – specialises in carbon sequestration, alongside a food production business’.
• The Energy Farmer – specialises in renewable energy production and management for the local area.
• The Web Farm Host – provides transparent and honest commentary to the non-agriculture sector and hosts virtual supply chain tours for school children.
• Animal Therapist – acts as a welfare manager for farm animals helping ensure consumers buying meat and dairy products from the farm are able to access information about animal wellbeing.
• The Pharmer – using biotechnology expertise to grow and harvest plants that have been genetically engineered with foreign DNA to make them produce medicine.
• The Insect Farmer – farms large quantities of insects for use as natural predators to control the new species of insect that spread in farming areas because of climate change.

This summary of the changing agricultural workforce has been adapted from an article by Richard Heath in The Australian Farm Institute Farm Policy Journal Autumn 2017 Pages 1- 7.