A NEW website hopes to harvest a new crop of workers for the agricultural sector in the face of a growing skills shortage.
To be launched in Canberra today, the Career Harvest website aims to reframe the way people view agriculture with information on more than 250 career options and the skills and education required to do them.
An initiative of the Australian Council of Deans of Agriculture (ACDA), Redhanded Communications Group and Rimfire Resources, the online hub already has the backing of 25 industry players including big agribusinesses, research and development bodies and supermarkets.
ACDA secretary Jim Pratley said the website was developed in response to a perceived shortfall in information available to potential students looking at professional careers in agriculture.
"We're hoping that we will see quite a dramatic shift in people's attitude to careers in the agricultural industries," Mr Pratley said.
"Career Harvest brings them up to speed with what opportunities there really are, not what are perceived to be."
Independent chair of the Career Harvest board David Anthony said the website was the first of its kind to provide a comprehensive look at the many career opportunities available in agriculture.
"Agriculture provides the gateway to a huge range of career horizons and opportunities, from production and food and fibre security vocations to environmental stewardship as well as careers in sophisticated research, engineering, economics and communication," said Mr Anthony, who is also chair of Auscott Ltd.
The website, which is now live, outlines possible career pathways in fields like economics, primary production, research and development, biochemistry and engineering.
Alternatively visitors to the site can use filters in the drop down menues to match their levels of skills, education and preferred study location with possible career options.
In future, Career Harvest also plans to set up a mentor program which will eventually allow for personal career advice.
Visit www.careerharvest.com.au