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| Training Courses for Land Based Careers |
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| Author : Craig Musson
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National Trade Academy Trains Tomorrow's Farmers and Trainers
The National Trade Academy provides people with the skills and knowledge they need to start or to continue their career in New Zealand's dynamic agricultural and equine industries.
We are proud to have established a working relationship with CRT to promote our courses to their clients and to utilise our training farm for research and field days.
Through its courses in dairy, sheep and beef farming, equine and primary industries, the Christchurch-based Academy provides, training to students seeking a career in the Agriculture or Equine industry. Courses are designed to provide access to employment in the dairy, sheep and beef, equine and other primary industry fields.
The Academy also provides short training courses to help people currently employed in the rural sector to improve their skills and knowledge, especially in the Health and safety field. Courses currently being offered include ATV and motorbike safety skills, tractor safety, chainsaw safety, pest control and 4 wheel drive vehicle safety courses, equine care, feeding and riding skills. These courses can be held in your region.
The National Trade Academy is registered and accredited by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) and the courses are funded by the Tertiary Education Commission. Some students who meet the eligibility criteria pay no fees for the year-long courses.
Director Craig Musson says the National Trade Academy's courses are popular because they teach practical skills, provide links to employment through work trials, and have no exams.
In the dairy farming course students receive classroom instruction from experienced tutors and take part in afternoon milking on dairy farms to gain a thorough grounding in the dairy industry.
"Dairy farming is booming in the South Island and it offers young people good salaries and conditions as well as a career path that can lead to farm management or ownership.
"Because of the technical nature of the work and safety concerns employers want skilled people but most are too busy to train their own staff. We support and provide that role for them," Craig Musson says.
Students learn practices specific to their chosen industry such as milking in both rotary and herringbone milking sheds, working in a wool shed, caring for horses, stock handling, lambing and calving. They also learn general farm skills such as fencing, ATV and motorcycle handling and tractor driving.
At the end of the course students are placed in work trials on farms and stables with an eye toward employment.
Those who complete the courses earn a National Qualification in their chosen industry. Once in employment students are encouraged to continue to train through the relevant ITO to earn higher National Certificates.
"Many young people know they want to work outside and not in an office or factory but they are not certain what jobs are available. With our programmes students are informed of the opportunities available.
Students attend lectures at the National Trade Academy's classrooms at Wigram Airbase in Christchurch. In order to provide more hands-on experience, the Academy has also set up a working training farm on land leased at the airbase.
The equine courses are run at the Canterbury A & P Showground�s.
For more information call 03 343 4901, visit our web site on National Trade Academy or email [email protected].
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