Dairy Farming Careers
How can I start my dairy career if I’m still at school?
You can do an Australian School Based Apprenticeship or a VETiS course at a secondary school. An Australian School Based Apprenticeship provides you with the opportunity to work with an employer and complete a nationally recognised qualification while undertaking your VCE at secondary school.
If you want to undertake an Australian School Based Apprenticeship you need to find someone to employ you and have the support of your school and your parents or guardian.
VETiS programs provide you with the opportunity to complete a nationally accredited and industry recognised qualification while still at secondary school. You can complete your VCE and a VETiS certificate at the same time, giving you greater opportunities for further study or work and an understanding of the field in which you are interested.
VETiS programs are practical courses which provide students with training, knowledge and work experience in a specific area. VETiS participation is organised through your secondary school. For more information talk to your school ASBA or VETiS Coordinator or your Careers Teacher.
What can I do if I have finished school?
Apprenticeships and traineeships are available to people who have left secondary school. To do an apprenticeship or traineeship you need to have a job with an employer who is willing to employ you as an apprentice or trainee.
Apprentices and trainees learn industry skills by combining on-the-job paid work with training at the NCDEA. Some of the training and assessment may take place at work or in some industries, all of the training and assessment happens in the workplace.
Apprentices and trainees are required to sign a contract of training which needs to be registered with the Office of Training and Tertiary Education (OTTE). When you finish the training you will have a nationally recognised qualification.
As an apprentice or trainee you will receive wages and other benefits to which employees are entitled. For more information go to www.otte.vic.gov.au/apt.asp or www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/
What job does a course lead to?
The level of study you choose will indicate the type of position you can expect to find. Positions on farm range from farmhand through to farm management as well as opportunities in related service industries. The NCDEA is working closely with industry to standardise the study and related career outcomes across Australia.
Your level of experience will determine the course you enrol in and whether you can gain Recognition of Prior Learning or Recognition of Current Competencies.
School students can undertake an Australian School Based Apprenticeship or a VETiS agriculture program. If you have finished school you may want to look for an apprenticeship or traineeship, which provides part time study combined with learning on the job. Alternatively, if you are looking for full time training you could enrol in the Certificate IV in Agriculture.
There are links between courses with one course leading into another. How far you go depends on what you want to achieve with your career.
As a general guide the following information may help:
• Certificate II in Agriculture leads to Assistant Farmhand
• Certificate III in Agriculture leads to Farmhand
• Certificate IV in Agriculture leads to Supervisor
• Diploma of Agriculture leads to Production Manager
• Advanced Diploma of Agriculture leads to Business Manager
If you need assistance to determine which course is best for you contact the NCDEA for more information.
Can I choose what to study?
Your study program can be tailored to suit your individual situation by combining units from different levels.
1) Choose an individual unit or a select number of units to cover your areas of interest, ie, Develop a Plant Nutrition Program from Certificate IV in Agriculture and Develop and Implement a Breeding Strategy from Diploma of Agriculture.
2) Choose a skill set of related units to achieve skills in a specific area, ie, to be a Herd Feed Manager you may choose Soils and Fertilisers, Pastures, and Nutrition from Certificate IV in Agriculture and Feeding Pastures for Profit from Diploma of Agriculture.
3) Choose a full qualification and complete the required number of units from that level of study.
The NCDEA can assist you in choosing the right program for your needs. Please contact the NCDEA on 1300 0 NCDEA (1300 062 332).
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