WITH PICTURE GALLERY: Two hundred industry representatives from across Australia’s dairy regions celebrated 10 years of Dairy Australia’s Cows Create Careers – Farm Module, in Gippsland last week.
The anniversary dinner congratulated and thank the many volunteers and participants who have made the project a success in the past decade.
Dairy Australia managing director Ian Halliday said Cows Create Careers had grown from nine Gippsland schools in 2004 to more than 209 schools across 23 dairy regions in 2014.
“51,855 students have learnt about the dairy industry and dairy career pathways through Cows Create Careers – remarkable figures that our industry should be extremely proud of achieving.” Mr Halliday said.
“Cows Create Careers continues to go beyond the classroom, many young people have been inspired to pursue a career in the dairy industry after completing the project.”
Since 2004 the school-based project has helped to shine a light on dairy industry careers in a very hands-on way: over six weeks secondary students are educated by rearing two three-week-old calves at school and the school is provided with dairy industry curriculum for years 7 and 8 and years 9 to 11, at no cost.
The program also includes volunteer dairyfarmers and industry advocates who visit schools to share their industry knowledge with students throughout the project.
Mr Halliday said that Cows Create Careers had gained huge support from dairyfarmers and industry advocates across the nation. Last year alone volunteers gave 1162 hours of their time across 23 dairy regions.
“Volunteers are the face of Cows Create Careers, they educate and support students on dairy career pathways, build awareness of the dairy industry, and build connections with dairy communities,” Mr Halliday said.
“The project’s 10-year success could not have been possible without a combined industry commitment and the many dedicated volunteers who donate their time and share their industry knowledge with students across the nation each year.”
Cows Create Careers started in 2004 with dairyfarmers in the Strzelecki Lions Club in Victoria. The Gardiner Foundation provided seed funding in 2005 to expand the project to all dairy regions in Victoria, and in 2006, Dairy Australia supported the growth of the project to other states of Australia.
Since 2006 Dairy Australia has worked with many through its investment into the project -from Regional Development Programs (RDP), dairyfarmers and advocates, to teachers and students. The National Centre for Dairy Education Australia (NCDEA) also plays an important role by being an educational link for the schools throughout the project and commercial sponsors continue to provide support across the nation.
For more information on Dairy Australia’s Cows Create Careers visit: http://www.dairyaustralia.com.au/People-and-skills/Careers/Secondary-School-Resources.aspx
