The industry's 2010-11 experiment in creating a pathway for newcomers to the industry - the In2Dairy Assistant Farmhand Project - saw 11 new assistant farmhands complete traineeships, with seven of them going on to study at higher levels in the industry, and one moving into a share farming agreement.

These new dairy people have started on the farm career pathway, and the industry remains committed to encouraging many more newcomers to follow their lead.

This great result has generated a second project and In2Dairy is gearing up for a new intake of potential trainees.

The project is designed to provide:

• 10 days of pre-employment training to give new entrants to the industry a taste of the training and the nature of the industry;
• A placement process to try for the best "fit" between farms and potential trainees registered for the project;
• Support to trainees, particularly in those crucial first few weeks of employment, to address the barriers that can make a new job difficult to maintain; and
• Support to farmers, specifically in their role as supervisors and trainers of labour.

The pre-employment training will be offered over the three weeks from April 23, so the placement of new trainees will commence in May.  A second intake is planned for September.

The project is managed by WestVic Dairy, on behalf of Dairy Australia, and delivered with project partners: National Centre for Dairy Education Australia (who deliver the pre-employment training, and enrol the trainees who are placed in employment); and Westvic Staffing Solutions (who, as a Group Training Organisation, provide placement and employment services, and support for trainees).  The tailored support for farmers is devised and delivered by Dairy Australia's The People in Dairy.

Any farmer wishing to find out more about the In2Dairy Project, or to be listed on the register as a farm to be contacted when placements are being considered, please ring Robyn Vale at WestVic Dairy on 03 5592 2477.

Click here to read the March edition of the WestVic Dairy newsletter.