24 NOVEMBER 2025

Now is a great time to think about bringing a young person onto your farm through a school-based traineeship. These programs let students work part-time, usually around one day a week, while completing a nationally recognised agriculture qualification. It’s a practical way to grow your labour pipeline, build skills early and bring motivated young people into the dairy industry. School-based trainees also bring fresh energy, reliability, and a willingness to learn, and many go on to become valuable long-term employees. If you’re considering future staffing needs, a school-based trainee can be a low-risk, high-benefit way to start developing your next generation of farm talent.

See the factsheet for your region and to learn more or discuss how SBATs could work on your farm, contact your Dairy Australia People Experience Lead. Hear from Jade Pepper who started her dairy career as an SBAT and it now working full time in the industry – Dairy pathways: Transition from school to workforce – DairyPod – Omny.fm

Dairy Australia – People Experience Leads

Gippsland, NSW – Tania Ketteringham 0412 040 504

Western Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia – Ella Dixon 0417 167 244

Murray, South Australia, Queensland – Melva Tyson 0439 667 425

Fact sheet links: