A small group of colleges in the Scenic Rim region have enlisted along with 78 other schools in a government initiative aimed at encouraging young students to become part of tomorrow’s agriculture workforce.
Jimboomba based Emmaus and Flagstone State Community colleges joined McAuley College in Beaudesert and Boonah State High as participants in the project.
The Agribusiness Gateway to Industry Schools Project aims to help young people make a successful transition from school into further education and/or employment in agriculture-related industries.
The school-based agriculture programs are backed by more than 170 industry partners and more than 30 Queensland Department of Agriculture staff statewide, including extension officers, scientists, project officers and biosecurity officers.
Mentors also assist with sourcing advice for schools wanting to reinvigorate or establish new agriculture programs.
McAuley College was awarded a grant under the project to integrate existing college agriculture science infrastructure for a model urban farming project for students in Years 7-10.
They also received funding to undertake a study into commercial chicken farming in the Scenic Rim.
Boonah State High School was awarded an $11,000 grant for a sustainable food production project which involved building a fully functional hydroponic/greenhouse structure, that in future, would utilise sustainable resources such as solar energy and school-based water catchment resources.
Produce grown in the Agriculture department and curriculum will be utilised in multiple other facets of the school, including the tuckshop, cooking classes and will be showcased in the school’s community ‘Paddock to Plate’ event.
Produce will also be sold to a local café that already has agribusiness links with the school Agriculture/Business faculties through the ‘Coffee N Cows’ initiative.
AGISP schools are supported with e-technologies to meet both student and teacher needs, these include a variety of online classes, webinars and podcasts.
