Innovations in Agri-Tech Education and Extension

We are a team of researchers and practitioners who develop innovative programs to increase the skills and knowledge of the current and next-generation agricultural workforce in agri-tech tools and systems.

Our team works with educational institutions, agricultural businesses and industry organisations to develop and implement a range of learning opportunities for educators, students and those working in the agricultural industry to build their capacity to use data and technology to support decision-making across the supply chain.

All of our projects aim to showcase the scientific and digital skills required in the agricultural industry to upskill the current agricultural workforce and attract the next generation to work in the food and fibre production sector.

By exposing young people to agri-tech tools and systems from an early age the benefits are two-fold:

  • It will increase the adoption of technology across the agriculture supply chain when these young people enter the workforce as they will be confident and skilled in the use of agri-tech.
  • Students will act as ‘agents of change’ and influence, encourage and support adults to adopt agri-tech tools and systems on-farm.

Specialist research skills:

  • education as a vehicle for information delivery and encouraging practice change
  • community-based social marketing
  • behavioural and clinical psychology
  • behaviour change through story-telling
  • knowledge transfer and innovation in agricultural supply chains
  • training and assessment protocols and delivery
  • information-based public relations and communications techniques
  • media, social media, and mass communications

RACE Gippsland

Gippsland agriculture is a world-class industry with the agrifood sector being the largest contributor to the local economy.  Despite this significance, many students remain unaware of the ways their different strengths and interests can be explored through the world of agricultural work.  RACE Gippsland connects the classrooms with the wider world of Gippsland agriculture and encourages students to explore their potential in a dynamic, STEM driven industry that exists in their own backyard.

Raising Aspirations in Careers and Education - Gippsland (RACE - Gippsland) will deliver a range of hands-on, interactive and engaging activities to primary and secondary students focuses on building student capacity in STEM, digital technologies, agribusiness, manufacturing and food and fibre concepts, which:

Raise awareness and increase motivation to pursue one of the vast range of careers across the agricultural supply chain

Build their knowledge of, and increase their aspirations to undertake further education pathways

Enhance their life skills (eg communication, resilience, problem solving) by exposing them to potential employers and industry role models

Find out more about RACE Gippsland

EXCITED 4 Careers in Agriculture

The EXCITED 4 Careers in Agriculture program is targeted at K-10 students in regional and rural communities. A range of hands-on activities will embed career guidance activities in the classroom and strengthen the ability of teachers, parents, and industry professionals to support students in exploring their interests, strengths and values and how these relate to the world of agricultural work.

This embedded school-industry partnership career guidance program will be implemented in regional and rural classrooms modified for lower primary (K-3), upper primary (4-6), lower secondary (7 & 8), and middle secondary (9 & 10), and focused on a regional industry of economic significance.

The program is delivered in partnership with AgForce, Australian Science Teachers Association, Australian Prawn Farmers Association, Cotton Australia, GippsDairy, National Association of Agricultural Educators, NT Farmers, Sugar Research Australia, and Wine Australia. This program received grant funding from the Australian Government’s National Careers Institute.

Associate Professor Amy Cosby

Amy Cosby has a Bachelor of Agriculture/Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and a PhD in Precision Agriculture. Amy is a leading practitioner and researcher in the field of student and teacher engagement within the agricultural industry and has extensive experience in leading large projects with a wide range of partners. She lives and works from South Gippsland, Victoria and with her husband owns and operates a 200-cow dairy farm. Amy currently works with educators, researchers and industry professionals to develop innovative programs to increase the skills and knowledge of teachers and students in agricultural concepts, tools and systems. Amy has conducted numerous surveys with both educators and students to evaluate their current level of agricultural knowledge and perception of the industry from a range of rural and urban locations. Her objective is to use the knowledge derived from this research to design programs that showcase and attract the next-generation agricultural workforce to the industry from diverse backgrounds.

Dr Jaime Manning

Jaime Manning is a lecturer in Agriculture within the School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences at CQUniversity Australia, based in Rockhampton. Currently, she teaches animal production, behaviour, welfare and new and emerging technologies into the CQUni agriculture degree program. She has a Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Bioscience (First Class Honours) and a PhD in Precision Livestock from The University of Sydney. Jaime’s main research interests are using and incorporating technology on farm to improve the level of monitoring and welfare of livestock (cattle and sheep), whilst providing invaluable information into how we manage livestock and detect issues as they arise in extensive production systems. Her experience in livestock tracking, technology in Agriculture and research ensures that activities and professional development opportunities developed by the Agri-tech Education and Extension Research team are industry relevant and highlight current issues facing the sector.

Dr Nicole McDonald

Nicole McDonald is a social science researcher specialising in agricultural career and workforce development. She has recently completed research projects for the Australian cotton industry on the social-cognitive factors of work engagement and job satisfaction, and understanding and planning for the future of work. Her work has been published in the 2019 International Handbook of Career Guidance in a chapter on the Vocational Psychology of Agriculture. She was the 2019 recipient of the Career Development Association of Australia’s award for Excellence in Research and is an alumnus of the National Farmers Federation 2030 Leaders program. She hopes to support individuals develop their skills and capabilities in the pursuit of a safe, satisfying, and purposeful career in food and fibre, and improve the social sustainability of the agricultural industry.

Dr Pat Colusso

Dr Patricia Colusso has a Bachelor of Science from Western Sydney University, a Masters of Agriculture and Environment and a PhD in Precision Livestock from the University of Sydney. Patricia brings a range of skills and experience from her time working with industry in an extension role and in University settings as an educator and researcher in the animal health and welfare space. Currently, Patricia is a researcher in the Agri-Tech Education and Extension team, where she brings her expertise and enthusiasm for agricultural education and outreach.

Lilly Stoyles

Lilly Stoyles grew up on a mixed farming enterprise in rural New South Wales, where her passion for agriculture took root. She pursued her interest through academic studies, earning a Bachelor of Agriculture from CQUniversity. Her experience in the cattle industry, on various properties, along with her involvement in the cattle showing scene, sparked her enthusiasm for educating others about agricultural systems. This motivated her to join the Agri-tech education team, where she can share her knowledge and experiences with the wider community.

Grace Dendle

Grace Dendle is a Project Officer in the Agri-Tech Education and Extension team. Here she works across a variety of projects where she educates children on careers in agriculture. She has completed her Bachelor of Agriculture from Central Queensland University in 2023, specialising in agribusiness and sustainable landscapes. She previously worked as a Technical Officer in the Precision Livestock Management team at CQUniversity for two years. Here she worked across projects such as silvopastoral trials, sensor-based livestock traceability, livestock methane inhibitors supplemented through water supply, and behavioural data collection of reproductive events to inform algorithm development. Grace has extensive practical experience of four years in animal research, with expertise in meat science, pasture projects, and animal behaviour.

Amy McCosker

Amy completed her Bachelor of Journalism at the University of Queensland in 2010 before embarking on a career within the ABC. The following years with the national broadcaster saw Amy working on radio, digital and TV projects with shows like the Queensland Country Hour and Landline. A keen interest in agriculture drew Amy to leaving the media arena to work with the agri-tech education and extension team at CQU.

Anna Day

Anna grew up on a mixed farming property in Western NSW. After completing a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney, Anna worked in Banking and Finance for many years in Sydney and overseas. She then returned to the country, completed a Bachelor of Education at Charles Sturt University and worked for industry to apply her knowledge and experience in the delivery of multiple agricultural projects. Bringing together her interest in educating the next generation on the importance of agriculture and her experience in program delivery, she joined the Agri-tech education and extension team in 2022 as a project officer.

Megan Hendry

Megan Hendry joined the Institute for Future Farming Systems at CQUniversity’s School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences in 2021 after a 15-year career in the media. Megan develops communications strategies and delivers content for CQUniversity's agriculture research teams and industry partners.