Federal Government cuts funding for AgCAREERSTART despite 94 per cent industry retention rate

Farmers and the Opposition have lashed out at Labor’s decision to cut funding for an agricultural gap year program responsible for attracting workers to the staff-strapped industry, labelling it “another blow for the regions”.

A deep dive into Federal Budget papers released on May 9 revealed the Albanese Government’s plan to slash funding for the AgCAREERSTART program from July 1 next year, despite 94 per cent of the participants remaining in agriculture.

AgCAREERSTART was launched as a three-year pilot program in November 2021 with the aim of giving those aged 17-25 the chance to live and work on a farm or station for a year, with the hope they will plug a labour shortage and fall in love with the industry.

Challa Station pastoralist Debbie Dowden took a chance on one of the 30 AgCAREERSTART participants last year, with 18-year-old Brad Benge still working on her and her husband Ashley’s Murchison station six months after the program ended.

Seventy youngsters are on farms this year and 100 have registered for next year.

Ms Dowden labelled Labor’s reluctance to continue funding the program “extremely disappointing”.

“I’m a huge supporter of the program. . . the mentoring on offer for the young people is what makes it stand out,” she said.

“Brad was able to have so much external support and training opportunity.

“All of the support added up to a very positive experience, and it gave him a big picture view of agriculture.

“It really cemented his motivation to remain in the industry. . . he wasn’t just plucked out and put here on his own.”

The program has received $3.08 million in 2022-23 but nothing in forward estimates, however, it is understood there is enough cash on hand for the 2024 cohort to participate in and finish the program.

A Department of Agriculture-run grant program designed to support jobs, called AgUP, and a Australian Training and a GrowCom-managed program for fair and ethical employment practices called the Fair Farms Program have been funded until 2024-25.

Both are then slated to end, with no funding allocated in 2025 to 2027.

Nationals leader David Littleproud was federal agriculture minister when the program was unveiled and lashed out at Labor’s plan to cut funding, labelling it “another blow to the regions”.

“AgCAREERSTART was a program designed by the former Coalition government to assist school leavers find work placements in the agriculture sector,” he said.

“It was a hugely successful program, with a 94 per cent retention rate. . . 54 per cent of participants have stayed on the farms they were placed with.

“AgCAREERSTART supported the future of our nation’s food and fibre, while also skilling the next generation of agriculture workers.

“Labor’s cut is another blow to the regions.”

AgCAREERSTART has been run by a team within the farmer lobby group National Farmers Federation.

Participants receive a full-time, paid job with a host farmer, a $4500 training and engagement bursary, funding to travel for industry events, and are given extensive support from the AgCAREERSTART team and their peers.