Queensland Agriculture Training Colleges and AgForce are ensuring producers and the next generation of agriculture workers are well equipped for future employment through their new partnership.
The two organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding today (Thursday August 10) at the Brisbane Ekka, to work together and deliver improved education and training outcomes across the Queensland agriculture industry.
QATC Chief Executive Officer, Mark Tobin, said the agreement was a great opportunity for both organisations to work together to assist primary producers to build productivity in a rapidly changing industry.
“We have been working with AgForce for some time to form a MOU, where we will partner in a number of initiatives to give an advantage to their member producers,” Mr Tobin said.
“We look forward to anything from short, accredited or non-accredited courses to provide training, assessments, consultancy, joint marketing opportunities and anything that provides a partnership between our two organisations.
“We have the skills and resources in education training and research and AgForce have a producer focus and the two come together to give better outcomes.”
AgForce General President, Grant Maudsley, said that under the new agreement AgForce members would be able to access value for money training, delivered by QATC across Queensland and across a suite of programs.
“The AgForce membership base will be among the first to have access to a range of new industry responsive skills sets and short courses, including those designed to enhance farm business management, ag safety, biosecurity and the uptake of technology in agriculture production and management.
“Technology will continue to transform the way we farm, especially digital technology and data analysis, so ensuring our primary producers are up to date with best management practices and techniques will be key to increasing the industry’s productivity and profitability,” Mr Maudsley said.
“Training for the current and future generation of farmers and farm workers must be relevant and future-focused. This new partnership is aimed at delivering the most relevant training solutions and ensuring farm businesses have better access to new developments and technology applications.”
Both Mr Tobin and Mr Maudsley agreed the new partnership was a win-win that would enable to organisations to leverage off each other’s strengths.