In A Nutshell Autumn 2025 | Page 20

INDUSTRY NEWS

Career headstart in ag

Bridget Barber joined the AgCAREERSTART program last year and said the experience working on an almond and citrus orchard in the Riverina gave her a great introduction to agriculture.
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THE National Farmer’ s Federation’ s
crop in preparation for harvest, I did
gap-year program AgCAREERSTART
work on the speed tiller, the Kelly chain
has just entered its fourth year, with
and the xplane,” she said.
about 70 young people expected to
Bridget said she would recommend
participate in the program in 2025.
the program to other young people
AgCAREERSTART connects farmers
who are looking to have a gap year
with 17 to 25-year-olds who want to
after secondary school.
work on Australian farms.
“ It’ s a great opportunity to gain
Participants are provided a job,
hands-on hands experience whilst
dedicated pastoral support, training
learning and gaining training within
and development grants, and the
the industry,” she said.
opportunity to build their networks in
AgCAREERSTART participants
the industry.
receive a training and engagement
The program is funded by the
bursary and Bridget used hers
Department of Agriculture Fisheries
to obtain certifications and go to
and Forestry.
conferences, where she could network
Almost 250 young Australians have
and learn more about the industry.
participated in the program.
In 2025 Bridget plans to work on
AgCAREERSTART boasts a retention
a property back in Queensland to
rate of 83 % of graduates staying in
experience the climate and crops
agriculture, post-program.
grown in that area.
Bridget Barber participated in the
“ In the future, I am hoping to stay
program last year, working on an
within the industry and to complete a
almond and citrus property in the
degree within the pathway I choose
Riverina and said it gave her a great
to go down,” she said.
introduction to agriculture.
Customised Farm Management’ s
After finishing Year 12 the
Regional Manager Richard Malone
Queenslander was unsure what
said the rural asset management
she what she wanted to study at
business has more than 100
university, so the thought of having a
employees on its farms.
gap year was a good option.
“ People are our most valuable asset
“ I knew nothing about the Riverina or
and CFM saw the AgCAREERSTART
anyone in the area before coming to
program as a wonderful opportunity
live down here for the year,” she said.
to attract young people into
Bridget spent a lot of time doing tractor
agriculture,” he said.
work in the orchards and this included
“ Our motivation is to give the
slashing throughout the off season.
participants a great experience on
“ When it came to clearing the interrow
farm that would hopefully one day
In A Nutshell- Autumn 2025 Vol 26 Issue 1
foster them into a career in agriculture, and perhaps one day see themselves joining the larger CFM group.” Mr Malone said with cross sectoral support CFM can offer an experience across a vast range of industries such as almonds, citrus, irrigated cotton, irrigated and dryland broadacre cropping and livestock farming.“ CFM has been a host in the AgCAREERSTART program for three consecutive years now with a tremendous experience each year,” he said.“ Charlotte, Callum, Bridget and Elijah have all been fantastic individuals to have work in our business.” Mr Malone highly recommends AgCAREERSTART to other almond growers and said CFM looks forward to continuing with the program into the future.“ It is a pure joy watching individuals develop their skills and passion over a 12-month period,” he said. Mr Malone said the AgCAREERSTART team has been a great support.“ The selection process and interviews ensure a smooth transition into the on farm role,” he said.“ The team offer support around training plans for the participants and assist in providing a bursary for the participant to attend training courses, conferences or further education.” For more information on the program, click here.