Danielle takes the lead in Agri-tech education in Central Australia
Danielle Brown, Vocational Educational Trainer with the Department of Education, has won a scholarship to develop her leadership in Agri-Tech in regional Australia. The scholarship covers a twelve month program that includes a two-day face-to-face symposium in Brisbane with Australia’s leading Agri-tech researchers and professionals, and the development of a teaching module relevant to her work in Central Australia. It was open to female trainers or teachers across Australia who work in rural education. Danielle was selected as one of 15 successful scholarship recipients from 68 applicants around Australia.
The aim of the program is to boost the skills of the agricultural education sector to inspire girls to get involved in Agri-tech careers. Agriculture industries sadly lag behind other industries in female participation rates, with only 30% of agricultural employees female, compared to 50% for all other industries.
The scholarship program is managed by Central Queensland University and is funded by the Federal Department of Industry, Innovation and Science. The Department of Primary Industry and Resources (DPIR) also supports the scholarship program, and DPIR Director Plant Industries Dr Mila Bristow will be one of the presenters at the Brisbane symposium.
“DPIR is keen to generate stronger participation from women to lead the future of agri-food industries in the Territory,” Dr Bristow said.
“I’m very excited to see Danielle, as one of our two NT teachers winning this scholarship, join the national project and be trained to engage and teach our next generation of ‘Women in Agri-tech’. They will join teachers from around Australia to be introduced to learning resources in agriculture and technology. I’m confident our NT teachers will return to their classrooms inspired.”
Above: Dr Mila Bristow from will be on of teh Agri-Tech leaders to contribute tot he development of Scholorship holders Australia wide.
Danielle trains 15-18 year olds from Yirara and Centralian Colleges towards their Certificate I in Agrifood Operations or Certificate II in Rural Operations at the AZRI horticultural block. Danielle has a passion for all things rural, having grown up in the rural area around Darwin, and is a graduate of the rural course at Taminmin College at Humpty Doo. She is particularly interested in the technology surrounding cattle identification, like the National Livestock Identification System for cattle tracking and remote management of stock watering using telemetry – both extremely important to Central Australian rangeland pastoral systems. It will take around 12 months to develop the module for her students, and Danielle is hoping it will be rolled out to Certificate III Rural Operations students at AZRI in 2020.
The NT will also be represented by Natasha Burrows, Agriculture teacher at Taminmin College, who will bring her learnings back to her students to increase the participation of women and girls in STEM and entrepreneurship through an Agri-food context.
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