Blackwood Annexe students in Hallora welcomed representatives of the agricultural industry as part of a recent school "incursion."
Molly O'Dea, a researcher and PHD student at CQUniversity and Veronica McLeod from Dairy Australia visited Blackwood as part of a collaboration to teach Gippsland students about agriculture, the business around it and potential careers in the industry.
Molly and Veronica have been visiting students throughout Gippsland as part of a program led by CQUniversity Australia. The program - Raising Aspirations in Careers and Education (RACE) aims to deliver a range of hands-on, interactive and engaging activities to primary and secondary students focused on building interest in STEM subjects as well as digital technologies, agribusiness, manufacturing and food and fibre concepts.
As part of the day, Molly and Veronica taught students about how dairy products and fruit and vegetables could be tested to measure levels of sugar, fat and other nutrients. Students undertook the "Sweet Science" test where they predicted the sugar content of various fruits, measured it using their own subjective tastes and then confirmed their results by using handheld and high-tech instruments which measure the sugar content and "sweetness" of various fruits and vegetables.
The RACE program is designed to raise awareness and provide students with information about career options in the agricultural supply chain. It aims to build student knowledge and increase aspirations to undertake further education in these areas as well as enhancing students' attractiveness to employers by teaching them various life skills such as communication, resilience and problem solving.
The program also aims to enhance engagement and connections between industry and the community. Through project partners such as Dairy Australia, RACE-Gippsland aims to promote professional development and learning opportunities for schools, highlight pathways for further education and engage industry expertise and ambassadors in food, fibre, manufacturing and agribusiness.
Molly said the school visits aimed to highlight how Gippsland agriculture was a world class industry in agri-food and remained one of the biggest contributors to local economies.
"Despite this significance" she said, "many students remain unaware of the ways their different strengths and interests can be explored through the world of agricultural work."
"RACE Gippsland connects the classroom with the wider world of Gippsland agriculture and encourages students to explore their potential in a dynamic, STEM driven industry that exists in their own backyard," she said.
To complement the RACE program, Blackwood students also visited Farm World.