Australia’s on-farm, gap-year program, AgCAREERSTART, is telling a powerful story about young people wanting to make their start in agriculture.

A program evaluation shows a high retention rate of AgCAREERSTART participants staying in agriculture through work or study, while every $1 invested delivers $5.56 back into the sector.

Delivered by the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) and funded by the Commonwealth, the program provides a 10 to 12 month paid on-farm placement supported by training, mentoring and career development.

Importantly, it provides a structured pathway into rewarding agricultural careers for young people aged 18 to 25.

However, with the pilot phase coming to an end, the NFF is calling on industry to step up and invest in the next phase of AgCAREERSTART to ensure the program can continue to create jobs that address agriculture’s workforce challenges by providing a doorway for fresh talent into the industry.

NFF President Hamish McIntyre said the program was designed to tackle critical workforce shortages in food and fibre production.

“AgCAREERSTART provides immersive, paid, on-farm placement supported by training, mentoring and career development. It’s a model that’s delivering real results and opening up opportunities,” Mr McIntyre said.

Since its launch in 2022, AgCAREERSTART has placed more than 200 participants on farms across the country. The program is attracting a diverse range of participants with 44% from metropolitan areas, 58% are female, 10% identify as having a disability, 6% are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, and 7% were born outside Australia.

“AgCAREERSTART has shown that when young people are given a foot in the door and the right support, we have a new cohort of workers who want to stay in agriculture,” Mr McIntyre said.

AgCAREERSTART Project Manager Tim Bradley said the next step is to bring industry on board to secure the program’s future and continue to grow a skilled workforce across Australian agriculture.

“We’ve proven the concept. Now, we’re asking industry leaders, RDCs, agribusinesses and governments to co-invest in AgCAREERSTART so it can scale and remain sustainable for years to come,” Mr Bradley said.

“The future workforce starts with practical experience, real jobs and supported pathways that give young Australians the confidence to build a career in agriculture.”

Former participants have described the program as “life-changing,” with many crediting their placements for opening doors to full-time employment, agricultural training, and long-term rural careers.

The NFF has released a prospectus outlining partnership opportunities for organisations ready to back AgCAREERSTART.

“This is a chance for industry to take the lead and invest in the people who are the future of our industry,” MrMcIntyre said.

To learn more about partnering with AgCAREERSTART, visit nff.org.au/partner-with-us-agcareerstart or read the AgCAREERSTART Prospectus.