From maths class to mustering, this outback class is learning in the paddock

On a hot and dusty day in outback Queensland, high school student Georgia Ward is swapping the classroom for cattle yards.

“It’s way better than doing normal stuff like English or science,” the year 10 student said.

“You don’t have to be at a desk all day, you can be outside … that’s the best part I reckon.”

Georgia is part of a small cohort of year 10, 11 and 12 students from Longreach State High School taking part in a certified Rural Operations course.

It’s a nationally accredited, school-based training program designed to provide vocational pathways for students.

“It’s a different experience,” Georgia said.

“It helps introduce new people to the industry and promotes the next generation of farmers.”

Once a week, students from Longreach travel to a nearby property to learn the ropes from graziers, agents, and industry professionals.

Teachers Courtney Horan and Tom Higgins started offering the program after noticing the lack of pathways for young people into agriculture.

“The kids love it,” Ms Horan said.

“Especially days like today, when we’re mustering, we’re in the yards and it’s hands-on.

“They’re not just going with that eagerness and keenness to work, they’re going in with the foundational knowledge of the entire industry.”

Future focus

According to the Federal Department of Agriculture, in 2023 Australia’s agricultural production is worth $80 billion and a shortage of skilled workers has left many gaps in the industry.

Ms Horan said programs offered to high school students were crucial to sustaining one of the country’s biggest industries.

“They don’t love the theory as much — but we love the theory, because we know, ultimately, education is key to the ag industry succeeding for the future,” she said.

Mr Higgins said there was no question about the benefits of getting the students outside.

“It’s phenomenal to give kids that chance to work practically rather than just be locked up in a classroom,” he said.

“I can’t emphasise enough how great the practical element of all of this has been.

“To give this chance to kids who are not necessarily reading and writing learners … [it gives them] the chance to actually get out and build and work on these skills.”

‘It’s up to us’

Longreach grazier Anne Webber works as a teacher’s aide for the course and often has the students visit her property to help out with cattle work.

She said the students were learning about mustering and processing cattle for live export.

“It gives kids an insight into what really happens,” Ms Webber said.

“Kids need to see there are endless opportunities and wide-open spaces and a million jobs that you can fill.”

She said training programs and courses were essential for attracting and retaining staff in the sector.

“With the colleges closing down, I think that’s where a lot of kids got their foot in the door, where they got some experience,” Ms Webber said.

“I think it’s up to us — if we want the people in our industry, then we have to give back.”

High demand

LEADAg is another rural program that takes students across central and western Queensland to gain practical experience on the land.

In 2023 more than 135 students applied to take part in the program, which started as a one-week course in 2022.

Program operator Meg Bassingthwaighte said she was blown away by the level of interest.

“It was amazingly oversubscribed,” she said.

“There were 135 applicants and we were only able to give 12 positions.”

She said it was a good opportunity for the students to see how many different careers there were in agriculture.

“Understanding all of the different facets has been really eye-opening to a lot of them,” Ms Bassingthwaighte said.

“They might have thought they wanted to work with cattle … or some kind of livestock, and they’ve actually realised that they’re super interested in ag tech, or something like that.”