“
There are great experiences
and opportunities available to
anyone who pursues a career in
Agriculture. Once in agriculture,
doors will open!
“
Ian Nunan
Non Graduate Lecturer, Tocal College
Trades & Skills » Careers in Primary Industries
Agriculture relies on skilled individuals with
the training and experience to undertake and
manage specialist as well as everyday tasks to
produce the food and fibre we need for life.
There are endless employment opportunities
in our primary industries regardless of your
qualifications and experience. Likewise
a successful background working in our
primary industries sector can lead to many
other exciting and unexpected career
pathways.
Skills and trades careers with NSW
Department of Primary Industries (DPI) include:
»» Technical Assistant
»» Non Graduate Lecturer
»» Farm Assistant/Manager
»» Support Officer.
Over the page, see the story of
Ian Nunan, Non Graduate
Lecturer, DPI Tocal College.
I grew up in Newcastle and my parents
owned a small cattle property near
Gloucester, so we went there as often as
we could. After school I completed a Tocal
Certificate in Agriculture and Tocal Advanced
Certificate in Agriculture (now Certificate III &
Certificate IV in Agriculture) at Tocal College. involves teaching agricultural skills to full
time students, running the total catchment
management tour of the Macquarie Valley,
coordinating the Working in Industry careers
unit and being an advisor to a group of
students who I help guide through their
course.
Following graduation I worked as a jackaroo
or farm/station hand on a number of sheep
and cattle properties before becoming
overseer on a large mixed farming property
near Warren where they run cattle, a merino
stud and also some cropping. I then did a lot
of fencing during the construction of one
of the big thoroughbred studs in the Upper
Hunter before returning to Tocal College as a
dairy assistant. From this role I was promoted
to Dairy Manager and decided to pursue my
interest in agricultural education completing
a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. You need to have a thorough understanding
of agricultural industries, excellent
teamwork, communication, organisational
and mentoring skills as well as the ability to
connect with young people to be successful
in a role like this. While working in this role I
have completed a Diploma in Agriculture.
Running a variety of Profarm short courses
developed my passion for teaching and I
soon gained my current position as Non
Graduate Lecturer. This is a diverse role and
I love the variety in my work and being
able to pass on the skills and knowledge
I’ve gained in the industry to the next
generation of agricultural professionals. I
still undertake hands-on work and use the
skills I’ve developed as well as instructing
students in these skills.
[email protected]
w w w . d p i . n s w. g o v. a u
“
Diversify your studies. There
are huge opportunities
available to those willing to be
interdisciplinary.
“
I grew up in Sydney and studied a Bachelor
of Applied Science with Honours in Animal
Physiology at the University of New South
Wales. Working at the Port Stephens Fisheries
Institute I found an interest in fisheries and
completed a PhD in Applied Science (Fish
Ecology) at the University of Canberra.
In my current role as Research Scientist and
Acting Research Leader Freshwater Ecosystems,
I manage a research team and work on a
variety of research projects including habitat
rehabilitation, environmental management
and improving the design and operation
of river infrastructure to promote safer fish
passage. Many of these projects incorporate
an understanding of both aquatic ecology
and hydraulic engineering. One such
collaborative project was nominated for the
Innovations and Inventions category at the
Engineering Excellence Awards Sydney.
Engineering & Maths » Careers in Primary Industries
There are endless employment opportunities
in our primary industries regardless of your
qualifications and experience. Likewise
a successful background working in our
primary industries sector can lead to many
other exciting and unexpected career
pathways.
Engineering and maths careers with NSW
Department of Primary Industries (DPI) include:
»» Statistician
»» Biometrician
»» Irrigation Specialist
»» Mechanical/Trade Engineer.
There are unlimited opportunities available
to those willing to work interdisciplinary, for
example obtaining training in both ecology
and engineering.
Over the page, see the story of
Craig Boys, Research Scientist and
Leader, DPI Freshwater Ecosystems.
As the world attempts to deal with water
scarcity and climate change there’s a huge push
to install more weirs, dams and hydropower.
Sustainability of fisheries can be negatively
affected if infrastructure isn’t designed to
minimise impacts on migrating fish.
Ecologists with an in-depth understanding of
hydraulic engineering and vice versa are highly
employable and sought-after worldwide.
I love the relationships I build with my peers
across Australia and beyond, and the reward
of knowing I’m doing my bit to leave the
environment in a better place for future
generations.
My advice: don’t be too concerned that your
initial field of study is necessarily what you
will end up doing throughout your entire
career. You can develop the skills to be an
effective researcher in many different ways. I
started out researching the salivary glands of
kangaroos and ended up as a fish ecologist!
[email protected]
w w w. d p i . n s w. g o v. a u
The world and the industries within it
are constantly changing. Engineers and
mathematicians respond to the questions
of what’s possible; they help improve
efficiencies in primary industries, and better
manage our resources.
Dr Craig Boys
Research Scientist, Freshwater Ecosystems
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SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL NEWS VOL 67 NO 4