• Five Charles Sturt University female agricultural students have earned 10-day professional development work placements with leading agricultural companies under the University’s Industry Professionals Scheme

Five Charles Sturt University students have been awarded a $1,000 grant and are selected for professional development placement opportunities with agricultural industry organisations.

Students and industry organisations will attend the Ag Connections event at the University in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 2 April to enhance graduate opportunities in agriculture.

The five students - Ms Caitlin Coutts-Smith, Ms Amber Spratling, Ms Meg Rees, Ms Penelope Casey and Ms Nerissa James - are studying agricultural degrees at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga.

Industry Professional Scheme (IPS) lead and Senior Lecturer in Livestock Production Management in the Charles Sturt School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences in Wagga Wagga Dr Jane Kelly praised the students.

“These five students have been awarded the 10-day placement opportunities with key industry partners and a $1,000 grant due to their development of professionalism within the Charles Sturt University Industry Professionals Scheme (IPS) during 2024,” Dr Kelly said.

“The IPS is a pilot program initiated in 2024 with the cohort of agriculture students at the University in Wagga Wagga who started study in 2024. It investigates how the program works to grow professional character in students to enhance greater employability.”

Industry partners in the IPS currently include Corteva Agriscience, Nutrien Ag Solutions, AgnVet, Cotton Grower Services, Warrakirri Cropping and Yenda Producers.

Several agricultural organisations, including partners from this program, will attend the Ag Connections event to connect students with future agricultural industry employers who provide graduate opportunities and are interested in students who embody professional character attributes.

The Ag Connections event is on campus at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 2 April and is coordinated by the Division of Student Services and supported by the IPS.

Dr Kelly said the winning students will spend 10 days placed with an industry partner early in the program, where they will shadow staff to learn about various services and aspects of the organisation and how professional character is exemplified in the workplace.

“Activities may include office or field-based activities, depending on the specific services offered by the industry partner,” Dr Kelly said.

“Students may also be supported by industry partners to spend time in various statewide and interstate locations if required, in order to broaden their experiences and to grow their understanding of potential opportunities available across the wider agricultural sector.”

The IPS is currently being piloted with current second-year students studying a Bachelor of Agriculture, a Bachelor of Agricultural Science or a Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management.

Current second-year students who have not yet engaged with the pilot program can still sign up to the IPS which has at least one more placement and grant opportunity available this year.

Future funding opportunities are being sought to grow the scheme so that more students may benefit beyond the pilot program.

Interested second-year agriculture students should contact Dr Jane Kelly to learn more about the IPS scheme and how they can engage with the program to develop their professional character and increase their potential for employment at graduation.