So right after that inspiring talk from Anika, we were all feeling pretty inspired around the jobs that were asscoaited with the sheepep indsutry and the role that each of these jobs had. Anika was a young farmer that was inrpired in sustiainable farming in order to help reduce the impacts of climate change. Not only is she a farmer but also someone that takes on this role that tried to educate the people around her about the impacts that farming has on the environment as well as the thoings that we can do to help reduce these impacts.

 

Agriculture plays a highly significant role in all of our lives, its career opportunities are so vast, yet so often overlooked. From Agricultural production to research, to economics and managing. Agricultural careers provide 1.6 million jobs to the Australian economy. Unfortunately, due to the negative stigma around many agricultural careers, jobs are often disregarded, negatively affecting the industry. 

​

So what are the careers you can find in the sheep wool industry? 

​

• Farmhand

carries out a number of “On-the-farm” tasks involving the sheep industry, including handling sheep, mustering, slaughtering, shearing and preparing sheep for sale as well as property maintenance and operating machinery. Farmhands are able to undertake demanding physical work and enjoy working outside. 

​

• Farm manager

Manages the sheep and wool production in the industry, including growing, harvesting, breeding and selling the sheep meat and wool. A farm manager also budgets, maintains a safe, hygienic property and manages staff and business. Farm managers are generally located on the site of the farm, residing in rural regions of Australia.

 

• Agricultural engineering

Agricultural engineers undertake a variety of activities, such as designing machinery components and equipment, using a system known as ‘computer-aided design’ (CAD). They also attempt to solve agricultural related problems concerning power supplies, the efficiency of machinery and pollution and environmental issues. 

 

• Agronomy in relation to sheep industry 

Agronomist’s focus on the study of soil, plants and seeds to aid the development of products used to better understand the environmental needs of crops and therefore assist the sheep industry immensely by providing nutritional feed for the livestock.

​

• Agricultural economics 

A job in agricultural economics involves analysis of production, consumption and distribution, employing the principles of economics to understand the supply and demand within the agricultural sector. Professionals within this field often choose an area of expertise, such as crop and livestock sciences, environmental economics, policy analysis, agribusiness, food safety, international trade, rural development, or marketing systems.

 

• Agricultural education

The main task of an agricultural teacher is to perform the many duties to facilitate a successful program. It is their responsibility to ensure the program is organised and conducted at a high level for students to learn. 

 

• Veterinarian 

Veterinarians in the agricultural field spend most of their time at farms treating illnesses and injuries and testing for and vaccinating against disease. Their job also includes being an advisor to farm owners or managers about their feeding, housing, and general health practices.

​
 

Student Interviews

We interviewed some students at our high school, Hurlstone Agricultural High School, asking about agricultural careers that we might want to pursue in our future.

 

 

 

Sophia H

" The sheep industry plays a highly significant role in all of our lives, whether we realise it or not. I personally believe that the diverse careers regarding the sheep industry would suit me perfectly. From the analysis of a number of sources used to write this blog, agronomy has become increasingly interesting to me. I feel as if I would greatly enjoy contributing to a sustainable future by studying the land and finding ways to increase soil productivity. " 

 

 Liora 

" If I were to take a job within the agricultural field, anything off-field would be the most suited to my skill set. Particularly, agricultural economist seems the most appropriate as I enjoy analysing data. " 

 

Marina

" The job most suitable for me in the sheep industry would be the livestock veterinarian. veterinarians specialize in the care of farm animals and could see more favourable employment prospects than their counterparts in companion animal care. Like any veterinarian, livestock vets examine animals, treat wounds, prevent disease through vaccinations, prescribe medication and advise farmers on any necessary medical or health related care. They are also trained to use different kinds of medical equipment and operate on animals if needed. This would be my interest in the sheep industry as I enjoy taking care of animals. " 

 

Elisha

" As I thoroughly enjoy learning the different topics in agriculture, I think that I would enjoy becoming an agriculture teacher. I have the chance to educate young students about the importance of agriculture within our society and all the different aspects within agricultural topics, such as horticulture, animal and plant science and agricultural technology. Overall, I enjoy interacting with other students, so an agricultural teacher would suit me best. " 

​

​

Agriculture careers can be split into six core skills:

 

Management – Controlling and maintaining agricultural processes and procedures

Commerce – Pricing, assessing and addressing the financial and economic side of agriculture

Education –  Having extensive knowledge of agriculture to undertake developmental research or teach others about agriculture

Engineering – Designing, constructing and utilising machinery, structures and buildings that will benefit the agricultural industry

IT – Creating and applying software technology, such as apps, that will enhance agricultural processes

Science – Using logic, predictions and explanations to analyse fauna and flora in agriculture)

 

The Australian wool industry provides thousands of jobs both in Australia and overseas. 

Careers in the wool industry can be divided into two main areas — on-farm and off-farm.

​

Working in the on-farm sector involves a career that supports wool production.

People who enjoy working with animals might consider one of the following careers:

• livestock manager  

• veterinarian

• shearer

• wool handler

• livestock nutritionist   

• farm consultant

• working-dog trainer   

• livestock agent

• wool broker   

• wool classer

 

Someone who is more interested in plants

might consider a career as a:

•   plant breeder

•   pasture agronomist

•   environmental scientist

•   pasture researcher.

 

Many careers that support

the on-farm sector might not seem to be in

the wool industry, but are indirectly involved:

• bank manager   

• accountant

• rural counsellor

• truck driver

• teacher

• University lecturer 

• rural merchandiser

​

​

​

​






 

​

​