The dynamics of agriculture are changing especially with women learning new and diverse skills to manage their own business or the opportunity to enter the agricultural industries workforce.

To meet this industry need, the NSW Department of Primary Industries’ Tocal College in partnership with AgSkilled and other government agencies offer women a variety of practical training options to upskill their farming practices and knowledge.

Women on Wheels is a week of training and personal development for women to increase their skill in operating vehicles and equipment and improve their farm safety.

The training covers tractor operation; quad bike operation; side-by-side utility vehicle operation; forklift operation; off-road four wheel drive and two wheeled motor bike riding.

And it’s not just all work, with health and wellbeing a priority, activities can include a morning walking, yoga and evening wellbeing and education sessions with guest speakers.

In March 2020, 37 women were ready to take part in the Riverina Women on Wheels to be held at the Yanco Agricultural Institute.

Then came COVID-19.

Training pivoted to a blended delivery with 31 women commencing their training online.

Face-to-face training resumed in June and due to the restrictions, the training was delivered through smaller groups and the week became two months… but there were 25 very happy and skilled women at the end.

Participant’s feedback about WoW
“I have made several new friends, got a lot more self-confidence, the safety aspect of what I have learnt from each course and being able to help my family more on the farm. I have also secured a casual position with my local council.”

“Last week I completed my forklift licence training at Tocal College as part of the Women on Wheels initiative. Doing it alongside other likeminded women made it so fun and supportive and we were very well looked after.”

Watch the WoW story Tocal College Case Study: Women on Wheels

Ladies on Land offers a week of practical hands on training designed to improve farm safety.

The course covers chainsaw trim and cut felled trees; fencing; farm workshop and welding skills; service and maintain small powered machines.

The aim is to empower women and to create community comradery, whilst improving skills and knowledge.

The Ladies on Land and Women on Wheels training is supported by Safework NSW Quad Bike Safety Improvement Program and AgSkilled.

AgSkilled™ is a vocational training program for the cotton, grains, rice, horticulture and viticulture industries, funded by the NSW Government with industry partners Cotton Australia and the Grains Research and Development Corporation.

AgSkilled™ seeks to upskill NSW’s cropping and horticulture industries to manage the challenges of the future by providing relevant training in production, technology, business and safety skills.

Generating Regionally Outstanding Women (GROW) course is a professional development and leadership program for regional women. It works to boost the participants’ leadership, management, communication, and networking skills, as well as provide tools to improve work health and safety and staff management in their businesses.

GROW is a program for business owners and managers who have a minimum of 5 years experience in the workplace and have delegation over the WHS and HR systems of business.

This course is delivered using a blend of face to face and online training, completed over a 6-month time frame.

Since 2017, 324 women have enrolled in the program.

We are very proud that GROW Project Manager Rebecca Fing received the 2021 VET Trainer/Teacher of the Year for New England NSW.

Tocal College has a range of accredited courses and can work with businesses to tailor a program to meet the training and skills for individuals, workers and/or business requirements. Our delivery methods include face-to-face, online and blended.

Course information is available on the Tocal College website.