Name: Fiona
Role Title: Beef Industry Development Officer (currently in the NRE Graduate Program)
Location: March 1999-March 2000 Pastoral and Veterinary Institute Hamilton, March 2000-Sept 2000 Maffra, Sept 2000-March 2001 Ellinbank (Warragul), March 2001 onwards ?

Description of work undertaken: At Hamilton, I worked in the research side of agriculture on projects such as the Multibreed Estimated Breeding Value project (all aspects - calving, weighing, tagging, artificial insemination, data analysis), Bull Feeding Efficiency (training bulls to use feeders, feeding etc, data analysis). On the extension side, I worked on the Beefcheque program assisting main facilitator with running of the groups. Yet to start at other locations. Fiona at work weighing calves

Team and / or individual role / responsibilities:
I assisted with calving - checking cows morning and evening for new calves and for any problems, also entered calving data (date of birth, weight, tag numbers, dam number) on to computer database. I was responsible for the day-to-day running of the Bull Feeding Efficiency program - ensuring that bulls have enough feed, are fed straw in evenings, that computer system works correctly, automatic scales are zeroing etc.

Future?
In the future I will work on different programs in the beef industry with the main focus on extension type programs/projects.

BACKGROUND: Grew up where? I grew up in Ferntree Gully (an outer suburb of Melbourne). I attended Box Hill High School where in my senior years I focused more on science. By Year 12 I knew I wanted to do some sort of work with animals and was leaning heavily towards zoology. My careers teacher told our year level that competition for Uni places would be strong, so I applied to the Uni of Tasmania for Science and Agricultural Science. They sent heaps of information on Agricultural Science and the more I read the more I liked it so bumped it up on my Victorian application. I was lucky enough to be granted a position in the Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree at Melbourne Uni.

Course(s) studied:
Tertiary /post secondary:
Bachelor of Agricultural Science at University of Melbourne and several short courses provided through the Graduate program.

Secondary:
There were no specific agricultural courses, but basic pasture, soil and animal topics were covered in biology and geography.

Work experience:
While at secondary school I did work experience in a cartographers (mapping) business and at a company called Kinhill involved with environmental monitoring. While at Uni we had to do 12 weeks of vacation work. As I am not from a farming background I decided to work on different types of farms to give me an overall view of farming. I worked on a sheep/cropping property at Moama, a beef property at Pearcedale, an organic sheep/beef/cropping property at Kybybolite and on a dairy farm at Longwarry in Gippsland.

OPPORTUNITIES:
Further study:
Within the NRE Graduate Program, there are opportunities for further study - specifically th a Graduate Certificate in Agricultural Extension.

Learning on job, new skills, etc.
There are plenty of opportunities for learning on the job in DNRE - the training schedule lists many courses for staff - essential workplace courses, role development and advanced or specialist courses.

Travel, etc.
There is travel in the local region for work, within the graduate program there is the opportunity to tour with cadets from NRE cadetship program to look at programs and activities around the state.

ADVICE TO STUDENTS NOW:
students up to Year 10
Have a look at different industries and don't be afraid to approach companies to ask questions and spend time with them to see whether you like that sort of work. This way you might have an idea of what you want to do so you can tailor VCE to suit your needs better.

VCE students
Investigate university courses and the requirements for entrance early. Try to talk to students doing the courses you are interested in to see how they find the course.

Tertiary students
Whatever your chosen career path, early in the course look at as many different companies within your industry as possible to give you an idea of options for work when you finish. Look for scholarships or bursaries to ease the financial load. Towards the end of your course, apply for as many jobs as possible and start early - even as early as the start of your final year. Even if the jobs are not exactly what you hope, going along to interviews gives you fantastic experience. Keep your eye out for graduate programs - many companies have them. These programs offer fantastic training opportunities.

OTHER:
Comments, thoughts, suggestions.
Find out about the company you are going for an interview with. Web sites are great for this and financial reports can contain a lot of information.

What careers have other graduates from your course entered?
Many got jobs quite quickly after university. Some went on to do a teaching course and become teachers in Ag Science and Science. Other jobs include a fertiliser sales representative, fertiliser agronomist, in Rural finance, working as a sales rep for an animal health company.