Fully subsidised rural and dairy traineeships is one of the drought initiatives from the NSW Government.
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Trainees attending Tocal College do not pay training fees and Federal Government incentives are available for employers if the eligibility criteria are met.
Base incentives potentially start at $1500 and an extra $2500 for a standard trainee on course completion.
This figure is more if trainees are over 21 or other incentives apply if trainees are over 45, or they are a Certificate III or IV course, which is on the National Needs Skills list, or from drought affected areas.
This is a great opportunity for farmers to take on new staff and train them in their farms preferred farming methods.
The trainees then attend Tocal College for six one-week training blocks over a one or two year period to complete Certificates 3 and 4 in Agriculture (Rural or Dairy).
This is not only a win-win situation for employers, but also prospective workers wanting to gain employment and experience on farms as trainees.
They get paid for working full-time, while gaining fee free national qualifications.
Travel and accommodation incentives maybe available for trainees for travel costs to and from study blocks at Tocal.
During the study blocks at Tocal, the trainees are trained in safety, cropping and pastures, precision agriculture practices and livestock husbandry, production and reproduction skills and knowledge.
Some of the other subject areas include, communication and workplace practices, machinery maintenance, farm welding, vertebrate pest control, quads, bikes and side by sides.
If you are an employer considering hiring an employee, or a worker looking to gain on farm employment, the traineeship program at Tocal College is too great an opportunity to pass up.
While the first Certificate III in Agriculture training commences on February 24, and the Certificate IV in March 2020, trainees can commence the program at any training block throughout the year.
Tocal College is an agricultural college run by the NSW DPI.
The Paterson Campus is on a 2200 hectare property in the Hunter Valley with commercial dairy, beef and egg laying operations.
It has a small sheep Dohne flock and Stock Horse stud.
Tocal also runs full time Certificate III and IV courses in Agriculture and Stock Horses as well as online diplomas.
Employers can get on board to gain incentives and take part in the training of Australia's future farmers at the Tocal website.
