What is AgSkilled?
The AgSkilled 2.0 program is a $15 million investment by the NSW Government to upskill the cotton, grains, production horticulture, viticulture and rice-growing industries across NSW.
AgSkilled provides fully funded accredited training to meet industry training needs across four key training pillars: Production, Technology, Business and Safety.
Current, relevant and flexible, AgSkilled training is tailored and delivered to suit the specific needs of your industry and business, and can be adjusted to suit students with a range of skills and experience.
Training covers areas as diverse as:
Agronomy
Business management
Emerging technologies
Farm machinery operation and maintenance
Leadership and management
Precision agriculture
Soils and nutrition
Workplace health and safety
For producers and employers
AgSkilled 2.0 allows you to build the productivity of your business by upskilling existing workers and providing new industry entrants with training in the skills you need, now and into the future.
For existing industry employees and job seekers
AgSkilled 2.0 will help you gain the skills employers want with industry relevant and up-to-date training. Increase your career and employment prospects, both now and into the future.
For a full list of available training, see Courses and Training Calendar
Student Eligibility
AgSkilled 2.0 training has a strong on-farm focus. Funded training is available to those with a genuine interest in NSW’s cotton, grains, production horticulture, viticulture or rice growing industries, such as being a producer, farm staff, contractor, industry professional or those seeking employment in the sector.
In addition, participants must meet the standard Smart and Skilled eligibility criteria:
15 years old or over
no longer at school
live or work in NSW
an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, humanitarian visa holder or New Zealand citizen
All applications are assessed on a case by case basis.
AgSkilled 2.0 Aims
attract, develop and retain a productive workforce to underpin continued growth of the plant-based fibre (e.g. cotton), grains, production horticulture, viticulture and rice-growing agricultural industries in NSW.
support cotton, grains, production horticulture, rice and viticulture primary producers and their workforce to develop production, technology, business and safety skills to increase farm productivity and profitability.
develop industry capacity to adopt new technologies and sustainable farming practices.
support career progression, entry pathways and employment outcomes across the wider agricultural industry and regional NSW economy.
leverage research and development in the identified agricultural industry sectors to ensure training is relevant, current and meets industry needs.
AgSkilled endorsed training providers
In order to ensure the rigour and quality of the training, AgSkilled works with selected preferred providers to deliver training.
AgSkilled’s Governance
AgSkilled is overseen by a Steering Committee consisting of industry associations representing the identified sectors, the NSW Department of Primary Industries, Training Services NSW, and the NSW Agrifood Industry Training Advisory Board (ITAB). The Steering Committee is responsible for identifying industry-relevant training.
AgSkilled employs a full-time Project Officer to administer the program, coordinating between industry associations, Training Services NSW, training providers, employers and students to facilitate fit-for-purpose training.
In consultation with industry, AgSkilled 2.0 aims to meet agricultural workforce development needs through four (4) industry-identified key training pillars:
Production;
Technology;
Business; and
Safety.
