GOTAFE staff member

Jean McGoldrick - Trainer Western Victoria

I immigrated to Australia from Scotland in 1982 with my husband and children. My husband managed a highly productive dairy farm in south west Scotland running Friesian cattle, and I was involved in education, both in regional administration and teaching as well as assisting on the farm.

Since moving to Australia, we bought our own dairy farm commencing with a jersey herd and almost immediately crossing with Friesians and continuing to breed to Friesians which suited our land better. We won several Milk Factory Quality Awards and Count Down Down Under Awards.

In 1983, I began as a lecturer at Glenormiston Agricultural College initially with the Victorian College of Agriculture and Horticulture and later with the University of Melbourne. My roles at Glenormiston included coordination and development of the inaugural Certificate in Agricultural Secretarial Course which evolved over the years to become the Advanced Diploma of Rural Business Management.

I also held significant roles in the Farm Management, Equine Management and the Degree in Rural Business Management. When Glenormiston took on board some responsibility for training and education for local dairy farmers, I became involved in the delivery of short courses for dairy farmers and dairy traineeship programs.

On the University of Melbourne’s departure from Glenormiston in 2005, my application to the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia (NCDEA) was accepted. I believed this would be an exciting new organisation dedicated to the provision of education and training services to the Dairy Industry. After being part of a state wide team who networked with the dairy community explaining the purpose of the NCDEA and listening to the needs and expectations of the Dairy Industry personnel, I have seen a progression to a position of healthy and rewarding interaction between the two facets of the industry.