9 minute read
BEEF AND SHEEP FARMER
There are many exciting careers available within sheep and beef farming and the wider red meat sector. Many people gain work on a farm directly after leaving school. Others choose to study first at a university, polytechnic or a cadet farm. The variety of positions and types of work within, and directly related to sheep and beef farming is huge. B+LNZ invests in and supports growing, training and retaining people in our sector through collaborating with others for more impact. Learn more: beeflambnz.com/people-and-training Need to talk to someone? Get in touch and email peopleandtraining@beeflambnz.com
Pathways to careers in sheep and beef
Primary ITO
Primary ITO offers training and learning while you work at levels 2, 3 and 4, and a full diploma. This training is arranged in conjunction with the farm manager or owner and delivered in block courses off site, combined with on job training and assessment. www.primaryito.ac.nz / 0800 20 80 20
Growing Future Farmers
Support on-farm cadetship opportunities in the growing network of sheep and beef farms across New Zealand. www.growingfuturefarmers.co.nz 021 315 534
Lincoln University
A specialist agricultural university in the South Island offering diplomas and degrees in agricultural commerce and science, plus related fields. www.lincoln.ac.nz / 0800 10 60 10
Telford
A live-in agricultural training centre (South Island) that delivers agricultural qualifications from level 2 to diploma. www.sit.ac.nz/Telford / 0800 83 53 67
Smedley Station
A full production sheep and beef station providing training for farm cadets. Trainees complete a National Certificate in Rural Servicing Level 4, as well as learning stock management and shepherding. www.smedley.ac.nz / 06 586 5725
Massey University
Offering specialist agricultural courses including degrees and diplomas in agribusiness and science and the related fields of environment and resource management and veterinarian training. www.massey.ac.nz 0800 MASSEY (06 350 5701)
ARA Institute of Canterbury
Based in the South Island and offering a Diploma in Agriculture. www.ara.ac.nz / 0800 24 24 76
Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology
Offering New Zealand Certificates Primary Industries and Agriculture and a Diploma in Agribusiness Management. www.toiohomai.ac.nz / 0800 86 46 46
Otiwhiti Station
A specialisted sheep and beef live-in training farm delivering qualification in Agriculture up to level 3 and 4. www.otiwhitistation.co.nz / 0508 872 466
Waipaoa Station
Waipaoa Cadet Farm is a live-in farm training operation delivering in agriculture from level 2 to 4. www.waipaoa.co.nz / 06 862 1988
Otago Polytechnic (Central Campus)
Based in Cromwell, Otago Polytechnic provides agricultural training to level 4 including a specialised high country sheep and beef programme. www.central.op.ac.nz / 0800 765 9276
Did you know the red meat sector generates over 92,000 NZ jobs and contributes $12 billion in income per year for New Zealand?
Southern Institute of Technology
To make a start on an agricultural career, the Vocational Pathways Primary Industries programme offers a good opportunity to gain sound practical foundation skills and knowledge in agriculture. www.sit.ac.nz/courses 0800 40 33 37 (03 211 2699)
Whenua Kura
A partnership between Lincoln University and Ngāi Tahu facilitating delivery of agriculture qualifications from level 3 to Diploma. www.ngaitahu.iwi.nz 0800 524 8248 (0800 KAI TAHU)
Direct to farm employment
It is often possible to gain employment on a sheep and beef farm directly from school. Vacancies are often advertised in local papers and the following websites: Agri-people website Federated Farmers job website TradeMe job website Seek job website
DOGS, NATIVE BUSH AND THE OUTDOORS
FARM STOCK MANAGER
writer PETER WHITE // photographer FRANCES EADE
Working on a farm in Southland has been a positive change of lifestyle for English-born ALEX DE’LAY. He arrived in New Zealand from his home in Northumberland, England in October 2017 on a working holiday. It seems nothing can stop his commitment to farming and learning as much as he can about the industry – not even losing an eye in an accident involving a firework just three weeks after he arrived in New Zealand. “I had six months off work and found work on a dairy farm. The farmer offered me a job because I showed willingness to work and then another farmer gave me a working dog,” Alex says. “It just shows you that people will help you if you help them. You make your own luck.” Alex has worked at Granity Downs, a 260-hectare intensive beef and sheep farm in Riverton for the last 20 months. It is renowned for its natural beauty and has a large area of native bush. He is a stock manager with plenty of variety in his work and loads of responsibility as he is in sole charge much of the time. “Every day you wake up and something different needs to be done. You always have jobs going on and you have to use your initiative. I am always busy. “One of the best things is I get to work with my dogs every day. It is good fun to train them and work with them. Just being outdoors is pretty much one of the biggest things about this job.” Last year, Alex completed the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Generation Next programme that involves three workshops over a six-month period. The programme gives graduates an understanding of farm business, how to develop better decision-making skills, understanding technology and genetics in the industry, the importance of managing mental health and overall industry goals. Alex loved the knowledge he gained and the trips to Dunedin and Oamaru. He says he now knows more about what it takes to become a farm manager. His advice to school leavers is to help out at your local farm to gain some hands-on experience and join your local Young Farmers’ club. Alex did not grow up on a farm but loved being involved with animals and volunteered on local farms from 14. “I just rocked up to a local farm during lambing time and asked the farmer if I could help out. I built up a bond with him over the years and went up there all the time on my bike. It was probably a three-mile bike ride each way. “I never got paid for it but it was what I enjoyed and that is where my experience started from. I definitely encourage school leavers to always have a willingness to help people. “All you need is some initiative and common sense and you’ll do well in farming.”
ALEX DE’LAY
KEY FACTS
■ ALEX DE’LAY IS THE STOCK MANAGER AT GRANITY DOWNS,
A 260-HECTARE INTENSIVE BEEF AND SHEEP FARM IN RIVERTON. ■ HE COMPLETED THE BEEF + LAMB NEW ZEALAND GENERATION NEXT
PROGRAMME, WHICH INVOLVED THREE WORKSHOPS OVER SIX MONTHS. ■ FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN FARMING, ALEX RECOMMENDS HELPING
OUT ON A LOCAL FARM TO GAIN EXPERIENCE AND JOINING A LOCAL
YOUNG FARMERS’ CLUB. For more information on the
Beef + Lamb New Zealand
Generation Next programme, visit www.beeflambnz.com/
your-levies-at-work/blnzgeneration-next-programme
writer PETER WHITE
photographer LOGAN WEST
Never giving up, going the extra mile and having a passion to help people has paid off for DAN SPEARING. The 28-year-old has quickly risen through the ranks at St John New Zealand to be the National Operations Manager – Hauora Māori, based at the national headquarters in Ellerslie, Auckland. “I have always had a passion for the health and well-being of people. I was very ill as an asthmatic when I was young, in and out of hospital like a yo-yo, so that history as a young boy played a big part,” Dan says. “I received a lot of care from doctors and nurses, plus St John ambulance officers as well. The combination of that with my passion to help people and my drive and want to go to university – [all of these] were key.” Dan went to Kelston Boys’ High School before doing Year 13 at Avondale College where he took Biology, Statistics, English, History and Physical Education. “At the end of school, I always had a goal of attending university to better myself and increase my knowledge. I actually struggled in Year 13 academically, but I always had that drive and passion to keep pushing myself. “So, I did some extra study via correspondence to get my Level 3 NCEA after I left school. I then did a Diploma in Sport and Recreation at AUT University and got some really good grades before moving on to a Bachelor of Health Science majoring in Paramedicine. “I finished in 2014 and entered St John becoming a front-line ambulance officer. I guess a positive attitude, drive and energy has kept me moving forward. “For our frontline ambulance officers, there are various levels of skill. I started as a volunteer ambulance officer in my final year at university, then became an emergency medical technician, then got my paramedic practice authority, before moving into the clinical audit and research team. “I was managing our national clinical audit process, which reviews clinical practice and provides retrospective clinical feedback. “In the last few months, I moved into my current role as National Operations Manager – Hauora Māori.” Dan is of Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāti Rongomaiwahine descent. He says his role is bringing a holistic approach from a Māori perspective into the ambulance service. “The overarching goal is to improve health equity within our communities. I am trying to make some really positive changes for all New Zealanders but more specifically Māori.” Dan sees St John as a viable option for students to consider in many different roles – from marketing through to media learning, finance, business intelligence plus the more well-known ambulance operations. “To be an ambulance officer is a balance of clinical and practical skills but also interpersonal and communication skills as well. “It is a unique space to work in and a real privilege as well.”
DAN SPEARING
KEY FACTS
■ DAN SPEARING IS THE NATIONAL OPERATIONS MANAGER –
HAUORA MĀORI AT ST JOHN NEW ZEALAND. ■ HE HAS A DIPLOMA IN SPORT AND RECREATION FROM AUT UNIVERSITY
AND A BACHELOR OF HEALTH SCIENCE MAJORING IN PARAMEDICINE. ■ DAN IS BRINGING A HOLISTIC TE AO MĀORI APPROACH TO THE
AMBULANCE SERVICE IN HIS ROLE. For more information on careers with St John, visit www.stjohn.org.nz and for more information on studying Paramedicine at AUT, visit www.aut.ac.nz
