A new pilot project in south-west Victoria aims to develop 20 job-ready assistant farmhands over the next six months.

WestVic Dairy, Westvic Staffing Solutions and the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia (NCDEA) have joined forces for the In2Dairy Assistant Farmhand project which is designed to address skills shortages on south-west farms.

Project manager Robyn Vale said it would offer unemployed participants two weeks of pre-employment training at NCDEA and the opportunity to take up a traineeship as an assistant farmhand.

Ms Vale said it was hoped the project would create regular `farm-ready’ and better trained employees for an industry crying out for more staff.

The program is being introduced as a pilot in the WestVic Dairy region but is likely to spread to other regions if it is a success.

The first group has completed pre-employment training and will continue with further units in Certificate II in Agriculture for one day per week. Three of the participants have already secured farm jobs. More trainees are expected to start soon in the program.

Farmers also receive specialist training and support through the program to develop their skills as an employer. “In some cases this will be the first time farmers have employed anyone and the first time their new assistant has had a job, so it is good that we can support both parties,” Ms Vale said.

The training programs are free for both farmers and aspiring farmhands and farmers will receive ongoing support from `mentors’ to help improve their employment skills.

The project was developed by Dairy Australia and the Brotherhood of St Laurence.

WestVic Dairy is managing the project on behalf of Dairy Australia, WestVic Staffing Solutions will provide on-the-ground support for farmers and trainees, and the NCDEA will provide the training.