Finn Sugars is just one of many year 12 students trying to figure out his next chapter in life before his upcoming graduation.
“I think I want to go to university, but I want to go into data analytics and finance in agriculture,” he said.
“I also see a future in helping farmers with what they should purchase and crop.”
Guildford Grammar is one of a select number of schools offering ATAR agribusiness courses. (Supplied: Guildford Grammar School)
Finn is enrolled in the recently developed Agribusiness ATAR course at Guildford Grammar, to equip year 11 and 12 students with practical knowledge and technical skills needed for modern careers as the farming workforce ages.
“So far we’ve learnt about free-trade agreements with different countries, how Australia sits in international markets, things like that,” Finn said.
He added that being surrounded by boarders sparked his curiosity around agriculture, considering he didn’t grow up on a farm.
“I’ve been able to visit places like Corrigin, to understand more about sheep, the price of them, different types of breeding,” he said.
“I find it so interesting seeing how a farm works.”
Students visited the Loose Leaf Lettuce Company to learn about food production. (Supplied: Guildford Grammar School)
Filling a gap
As part of the subject, Guildford students had been given access to local agribusinesses and the chance to engage directly with local producers.
Western Australia’s largest citrus producer Moora Citrus’s chief executive officer Shane Kay said his business needed people who could work with technology.
“Businesses like ours are moving towards using more and more technology; you need those experienced people to run certain aspects of the business,” Mr Kay said.
Guildford Grammar School visited agribusinesses to explore livestock and cropping supply chains. (Supplied: Guildford Grammar School)
“There has always been a lack in that middle-management area where you might want irrigation managers or people who understand computers, you need them to be able to run and manage those.
“When we put job ads out, you rarely get many applicants with the skills you need, so the more ways people can be trained through education — the better.”
Taking the risk of a new subject
Scotch College is another Perth school in the early phases of ATAR agribusiness.
Teacher James Rees said there was an increase in students choosing agribusiness at the school.
“We have 22 students who have enrolled to take the course next year, that’s up from nine students this year,” Mr Rees said.
He believes the potential of this type of education is limited only by the capabilities and expertise of the teaching staff.
“I think understanding how primary production works is important. The barrier is finding schools that are willing to take the risk on a new subject and allocate the resources to that,” Mr Rees said.
Outside of the city
Further south of Perth, Bunbury Cathedral Grammar is collaborating with the University of WA (UWA) to assist in exploring innovative ways to apply science and technology to support the future of farming.
UWA’s Andrew Guzzomi said farming machinery was becoming more sophisticated and would need people to develop and use it.
Matthew O’Brien and Andrew Guzzomi are working to further agricultural education in their curriculum. (ABC South West WA: Kate Forrester)
“Australia is unfortunately behind in agriculture technology,”
Dr Guzzomi said.
“I think it is because of a lack of exposure.
“It’s not just me that has noticed this gap. Skills Australia has officially recognised that there is an area lacking in these skills.
He said their work had received strong support.
“At the University of Western Australia we are fortunate to have funding from the federal government and the Grains Research Development Corporation to address these needs.”
Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School principal Matthew O’Brien said the school’s journey toward greater agricultural engagement began two years ago with the leasing of land to establish a school farm.
“The business of farming is becoming more complex, we have parents coming to us asking, ‘What are we doing as a school to develop this?'” he said.
“So we are developing a program to assist with those science and business skills, with the help of Andrew and UWA.”
Bunbury Grammar School students will produce food for the boarding house on the farm. (Supplied: Bunbury Cathedral Grammar)
Mr O’Brien said the school had deliberately chosen not to offer ATAR agricultural subjects at this stage, as part of a considered strategic approach.
“We are wanting to build first the pipeline earlier on so then the students have the desire to do the agricultural ATAR subjects with integrity when we get to that point.”
