Key Points.
- Young people’s perceptions of agriculture and regional areas are a caricature created by TV, movies, cartoons, news and limited personal experience. Agriculture needs career communications that bring to life specific roles that challenge stereotypes.
- When young people are asked to identify careers in agriculture they can’t. Their answers revolve around farming related activities. Research (including The Archibull Prize surveys) show there is a positive correlation between knowledge and interest.
The 2017 SEED report Developing student interest in the agriculture sector identified Agriculture as a career is completely off the radar for young people. To turn this around and fast track putting agriculture career pathways front of mind for young people Picture You in Agriculture (PYiA) and the Primary Industries Education Foundation Australia (PIEFA) are partnering to promote agricultural careers.
In late 2018 PIEFA will relaunch the Career Harvest website which is designed as a one-stop shop for prospective careers in agriculture. The site gives information on career pathways, internships and scholarships, with advice and news from graduates and industry.
Similarly, PYiA runs a careers website under their Archibull Prize banner featuring Young Farming Champions (YFC) illustrating the diverse range of agricultural careers with videos and career snapshots. The content is aimed at primary and secondary students participating in The Archibull Prize and encourages students to consider a career in agriculture.
“Our Young Farming Champions are visiting schools, sharing their stories in the community and online, showing young people, teachers, careers advisers and parents a career in agriculture is an exciting chance to be part of the solution. A chance to undertake problem solving and see your work impact the lives of others
The new partnership between the two bodies will allow for cross-promotion of content between both sites. “Industry and schools need a platform to promote agricultural education and I believe this partnership with PIEFA is a wonderful start to positive collaborations,”
We are all in this together. Collaboration reduces duplication. Collaboration creates opportunity and solves common priorities” PYiA Director Lynne Strong said.
PIEFA CEO Ben Stockwin also believes this will be a mutually beneficial arrangement.
“PIEFA has recently taken on the management of Career Harvest and aims to curate careers information on behalf of industry to pull together information that informs and attracts new entrants to the industry,” he said. “PYiA and YFC have been at the forefront of presenting a modern, contemporary and accurate portrayal of the industry in a way that is accessible to young people across Australia. Career Harvest is very proud to have these programs as partners.”
More than just on-farm, agriculture today offers careers across a wide spectrum including jobs in environment and sustainability, biosecurity, humanities, extension, communications and engineering to name a few. Having platforms such as Careers Harvest and The Archibull Prize will guarantee a new generation is aware of these opportunities.
#YouthVoices18 #YouthinAg #STEMCareers
