Case study - The Future of Agriculture

With a focus on innovation, regional inclusion, and practical training, GOTAFE has been working to develop practical short courses that could help modernise agricultural education for regional communities in its area.

GOTAFE asked ACIL Allen to independently speak to the community stakeholders and examine course delivery and student outcomes, identify lessons learned, and capture specific examples of educational leadership and innovation. A key consequence of this work was shaping future directions in regional education and workforce development.

What we did

We examined four key questions regarding GOTAFE’s activities:

• How the local communities were involved in the selection and development of course offerings.
• How the various short courses were delivered, particularly the focus on hands-on, industry-relevant training and inclusion of underrepresented groups.
• How the short courses were marketed and promoted.
• What lessons and materials resulted that could further assist future directions regional agricultural education.

How did we go about it

We used a mix of project documents, enrolment and participation data, together with in depth discussion involving GOTAFE trainers, executives, students, employers, and government representatives. In keeping with the consultative approach adopted in developing the course offerings, the evaluation was guided by strong governance and a commitment to capturing insights through culturally safe, inclusive, and locally relevant discussions with wide cross-section of stakeholders.

What did we find

Local communities were involved in the selection and development of course offerings through participation in previous industry roundtables and strategy consultations, which informed an initial list of potential short courses. This list was refined with input from GOTAFE trainers and a Local Industry Expert Panel — including local government, industry bodies, and education representatives — ensuring course priorities reflected regional needs and stakeholder insights.

Seven new short courses were developed with 210 people completing training by late 2024. The courses involved contemporary training tools such as tractor simulations and ReproScan ultrasound equipment. These enhanced the learning experience with hands-on technologies that aligned training delivery to industry standards.

The Find Your Passion course, developed by GOTAFE with the Goulburn Murray Local Learning and Employment Network (GMLLEN), engaged secondary students through hands-on experiences in agriculture and horticulture. Delivered in partnership with multiple local schools and community organisations, it successfully promoted career pathways and strengthened links between education and industry. Other courses included Cattle Pregnancy Testing and Farm Safety for CALD Communities and reflected a practical, inclusive approach to skills development. By working closely with CALD community leaders and regional industry partners, the training designed by GOTAFE better met local needs and helped boost community engagement. Innovative community partnerships with CALD community leaders and regional industry partners resulted in tailored training models and improved engagement.

Through a strong presence at regional events and targeted use of digital outreach, GOTAFE saw a 21% jump in agriculture enrolments from 2023 to 2024.

These achievements did not come without challenges. For example, not all the 14 short course initially envisioned were able to be completed to schedule, this largely due to delays in the procurement of requisite equipment and infrastructure. That said, GOTAFE was able to prioritise and pivot the efforts of trainers to deliver much of the ambitious program it had set for itself.

Case studies of innovation

Three case studies exemplify the program’s openness to adopt new approaches to regional community training needs:

• Farm Safety and CALD Pathways into Dairy course was co-designed with community leaders, even delivered in Swahili. It showed that culturally responsive training can reach underrepresented learners, as well as helping local farmers see the value of a more diverse workforce.
• Find Your Passion was co-designed with GMLLEN and exposed students to modern farm technology and practical tasks, demonstrating that early, experiential learning can spark interest in regional training pathways and careers. It highlighted a commitment to engaging new learner cohorts through innovative school-based outreach.
• Cattle Pregnancy Testing responded to a gap in the market by teaming with technology providers to quickly build a course using the latest ultrasound tools. It attracted students from across Australia and New Zealand and proved the capacity of GOTAFE to be responsive to industry needs.

Overall reflections

The GOTAFE program has demonstrated, both internally and externally, the value of training that is carefully tailored to regional contexts and industry needs, and that is backed by strong partnerships that enable culturally responsive delivery.

The investments made in short courses has shown that such programs can offer a rich and complementary way to involve regional communities in shaping and delivering agricultural education, this alongside more traditional nationally accredited offerings. In fact, some of these short courses may have the potential to be formalised within the national training system.

The model also holds promise beyond just agriculture and could be adapted for other sectors facing similar challenges, such as the hospitality and/or the sports and recreation sectors.