|
Name:Joel
Title/role:Native Biodiversity Officer,
Department of Primary Industries
Location:Tatura
Description of work undertaken
Joel provides extension and advice to landholders in relation to protecting and enhancing native vegetation and also coordinates financial incentives for the landholders to carry out revegetation and remnant protection works. Joel spends 50% of his time in the office using systems such as Geographic Information Systems to make maps and plan on-ground works. He also tailors species lists for landholders to use to assist with plant orders.
Course studied
Joel completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (Parks, Recreation and Heritage) at Charles Sturt University, Albury. Whilst completing his degree he also completed a Certificate IV in Conservation and Land Management (Natural Area Restoration and Management).
Advice to students
Students up to year 10
Joel suggests students try to do a range of subjects and sort out what they are interested in. Students will find that they are better at the subjects they like and will struggle with the ones they don't like so much.
VCE students
Joel's advice is by now they should know what they like and don't like and should be doing the subjects that appeal to them and fit in with their future plans. Students might not know what they want to do, but should be able to identify what they do and don't like.
Tertiary students
Students should obviously have fun at University, but they also need to remember why they are there! They should make sure they go out and get some practical experience, or good work placements. Try and do a range of different placements to give themselves an idea of the job that they think they want to do.
Teaching Farms
Feeding lambs, milking cows, collecting eggs from the chooks and attending a small school in the country are some of the exciting experiences many young people from Melbourne and major regional centres have when they are involved in the Teaching Farms program.
The program focuses on building partnerships between metropolitan and rural students with the highlight of the program being a visit by the metropolitan students to the rural community.
The program was initiated over fifteen years ago to provide opportunities for young people who live in Melbourne and regional centres to experience life in a rural community including 'life on the farm'. The program involves around 300 young people each year.
Young people from a metropolitan school are linked with a rural school where they begin communicating with each other through the internet. They become involved in a range of learning activities focusing on farming and rural life, leading to a visit to the rural community for up to a week. In recent times, the partnerships developed have seen the Melbourne school hosting the rural school for a reciprocal visit.
Many school partnerships that have operated for a number of years have resulted in families building long lasting relationships with partner families spending holidays together 'on the farm'.
The program is supported by the Country Education Project, LandLearn and the Department of Primary Industries which provide a Project Officer and an allocation of resources to support the development and operation of the partnership.
If you are interested in becoming involved in the Teaching Farms program visit www.cep.org.au or phone the Country Education Project on 0428 171 145 for more information.
next»
Professional Development Update
|
