Peter Small and Bill Hamill: Changes needed to keep agriculture training relevant
Respected wool grower and Rural Industries Skill Training founder Peter Small, and chief executive Bill Hamill, say the sector has two challenges ahead if it wants to remain relevant.
The agriculture training sector has two main challenges ahead if it wants to remain relevant to industry, according to two supporters of a leading ag college at Hamilton.
Respected Western District wool grower Peter Small is one of the original founders of Hamilton’s Rural Industries Skill Training, established nearly 30 years ago to equip young people and experienced producers with industry-relevant skills
He believes a greater focus on delivering cutting-edge knowledge to established producers will be necessary in the future, while RIST chief executive Bill Hamill says attracting more young people to agriculture is equally vital.
RIST was incorporated as a training provider in 1992, and last year delivered more than 300,000 hours of training to more than 600 students across Australia.
This year, it has about 200 students undertaking courses from school-based training to diplomas in agriculture, as well as a bachelor of agriculture degree course run in partnership with CQUniversity.
It was built on the idea that integrating education, training and research into one institution would help drive ag industry innovation.
“I’m delighted with the fact it still exists because it was a rather new concept,” Mr Small said.
“Part of the success of the program is based on the fact, which is the original model that I introduced for farm apprenticeships, you don’t actually get teachers doing the training. You actually use industry specialists.”
From pregnancy testing to fencing, animal husbandry to shearing, skills are taught by industry experts in the field.
Short courses for established farmers were RIST’s strong suit in the early years, but in recent times the college has put more focus on traineeship courses for young people just entering the industry.
Mr Small said an equal focus on both was needed to help boost agricultural production, profitability and sustainability.
“I think RIST could do more innovative programs addressing the really top farmers out there, whether they are 30 or 70,” Mr Small said. “And they shy away from that.”
At the helm for the past 18 years, RIST chief executive Bill Hamill said attracting young people to the industry was a major challenge.
“Peter and the founding fathers saw a shortage of people, particularly in the sheep and wool industry, and now down the track we have some similar challenges,” Mr Hamill said
“Where I see education, where it is going in the future is completely different. If we don’t keep up with how the younger people want to learn, we are going to be left behind.”
Mr Hamill said virtual delivery of courses was something the sector needed to embrace, without letting it push out the hands-on component of skills training.
“It (virtual learning) is not only just replacing the education model of today, it is also engaging with the younger generation. One of our major roles I see in the future of RIST is attraction.”
The state government last week opened a review of the agricultural training sector, seeking input from industry, training providers and students about how to increase enrolments and course outcomes.
Training and skills Minister Gayle Tierney said the review aimed to support industry by meeting skills needs.
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