NEARLY 50 schools, taking in more than 750 students and teachers, have taken part in this year’s Cows Create Careers – Farm Module.
In a series of presentation days, the 47 schools in the Limeston Coast, Barossa and Mid North, Fleurieu Peninsula, and Murray Bridge and Adelaide Hills regions were recognised, including the division winners.
CCC is an industry-initiative that aims to increase student awareness of dairy industry careers in a hands-on way.
Primary and secondary school students are educated by rearing two, three-week-old calves at school, with accompanying curriculum provided.
Dairy Australia’s industry capability program manager Tracy Lloyd said the program started in 2004 with dairyfarmers in the Strzelecki Lions Club in Vic and nine Gippsland schools.
With support from Dairy Australia, Regional Development Programs, dairy farmers and sponsors, the program has grown to more than 245 schools across Australia with about 12,000 students expected to be involved in 2017.
“Cows Create Careers – Farm Module is a program that builds awareness of dairy industry careers – from teaching students about educational and vocational pathways, to profiling the diverse range of professional careers in the dairy industry,” Ms Lloyd said.
“By bringing calves into schools, students have fun learning about the different skills required in the dairy industry.”
Locally, the project is funded by DairySA and receives statewide support from Dairy SA & SA Dairy Industry Fund and receives additional support across the state from local companies:
In the Barossa Valley and Mid North division, 12 schools took part with Nuriootpa High School claiming the junior competition and Orroroo Area School the senior section.
At the Limestone Coast, eight schools took part with the junior section won by Glencoe Central Primary School and the senior section won by Kingston Community School.
Mount Compass Area School won the junior section and Willunga High School the senior section, competing against 12 schools in the Fleurieu region.
In the Murray Bridge region, there were 15 schools with Gumeracha Primary School the junior winners and Murray Bridge High School taking out the senior division.
