Australian Government Media Release - 10 June 2009
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke today announced the first round of grants under the Next Gen Farmers initiative. Next Gen Farmers, part of Australia's Farming Future, was established in March this year to support future industry leaders who can help their communities meet future challenges, including climate change.
Thirty projects will share in the funding, including a project to provide more training and mentoring for young women in agriculture and others in industries such as grains, dairy and horticulture. The median age of farmers is now over 50 years old and the proportion of farmers under 35 years is falling. Any industry depends on a new generation of leaders to secure long-term growth and agriculture is no different.
The grants support activities that aim to
- build and share knowledge and experience
- develop leadership and management skills
- boost participation in primary industries
- develop skills to contribute more effectively to government and industry decision making
- build networks among rural, regional and remote Australians.
Tasmania - Up to $54,834 - ‘Tasmanian Rural Community Leadership Academy', Rural Alive and Well Inc.
This program will deliver a two-day personal leadership skills and creating vision and goals session, a two-day turning leadership into actions session, an out-of-session mentoring program and a final session to ensure there are processes in place for the graduates to maintain networks.
Click here for more information on Rural Alive and Well