A key component of the Government-industry campaign are three-week training courses to rapidly upskill job seekers looking for work in the dairy industry.
However, uptake has been slow with eight of 12 available spots filled on one course at DairyNZ’s Scott Farm near Hamilton and 50 applicants for South Island courses with 180 places available.
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said he is confident uptake for the $3 million programme will increase over the short term as job security becomes more of an issue.
“A job in dairy and across agriculture is going to be secure because we need animal husbandry, we need on-farm management and the world needs our food.”
O’Connor visited Scott Farm where he saw for himself the type of training the students get.
He was given a quick lesson on quad bike safety.
“It’s an interesting example of the skills that are required for just around a little flat paddock like that and the potential dangers there are for people,” he said afterwards.
DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle said about 6000 of the 34,000 people working on dairy farms are migrant workers. The closing of the borders by covid-19 means the industry is short of 1000 workers.
There have been about 300 expressions of interest in the programme with 90 people in training or about to start. Mackle called that encouraging.
“It will grow over time.
“This three-week course is a taster but it also gives them some essential skills. A lot of the training the farm worker will do is with the farm owner.”
GoDairy’s launch comes as calving gets under way in Waikato and farmers need more staff.
O’Connor said the course will not tell the students everything about the industry but will give a great introduction.
The dairy industry also has to keep promoting the industry to promote the opportunities that are available, he said.
“The conditions aren’t as bad as some people might think.
“It’s an outdoors job and sometimes you’re dealing with the elements but there’s a lot of rewards dealing with the animals and challenges around machinery and contributing to NZ’s economy.”
The first week involves online training before going onto the farm for practical training where they are taught quad bike skills, stockmanship, pasture management and calf rearing.
Some have previous dairy farm experience but most, including Anna Stevens from Hawke’s Bay, have none.
Stevens said the chance to work with animals drew her interest after she was made unemployed by covid-19.
So far it has been a very positive experience.
“Fantastic, way better than I expected, more practical, the tutors know what they are talking about. It’s only been a day and a half but we have had time with the newborn calves, in the milking shed, out in the paddocks. It’s been really good.”
Another said it was the chance to work with animals and machinery that attracted him to the industry.
During and after the training the students can apply for entry level positions on dairy farms while still being taught by the farm owner.
Stevens has found a job as a calf rearer, which she hopes will lead to a dairy assistant role.
Others in the class have had interviews and are waiting to hear back from prospective employers.
Another trainee, Madi King, already works on a farm and is doing the course to upskill herself.
O’Connor said the Government will keep rolling the programme out as long as demand is there.
