Tuesday, 04 August 2020 11:01

Recruitment drive going well — DairyNZ

Written by  Peter Burke
Go Dairy is a $3.5 million campaign being run by DairyNZ to try and get 1000 kiwis to fill dairy farm jobs. Go Dairy is a $3.5 million campaign being run by DairyNZ to try and get 1000 kiwis to fill dairy farm jobs.

DairyNZ says some of the people who have completed their training programme, Go Dairy, are already working on dairy farms.

People Team Leader Jane Muir says she’s excited at what has happened in just a few weeks since the programme has been running.

Go Dairy is a $3.5 million campaign being run by DairyNZ to try and get 1000 kiwis to fill dairy farm jobs. It is targeting NZ residents or citizens of all ages who have either lost their jobs due to Covid-19 or think they might or are looking for a new career path. 

The programme consists of a 10 hour online introductory course followed by a two week practical course with a focus on handling farm machines and also how to manage animals. The aim is to make participants ‘farm ready’ and to give them the necessary skills to apply for a farm assistant job on a dairy farm.

Muir says so far about 150 people have completed the online course and some of these people have already got jobs on dairy farms, such is the demand for staff.

“Employers are saying they really want access to those people who have done farm-ready training. They are showing they are open to employing people who are making a career change and clearly value the ‘fit for purpose training’ which we are offering,” she says.

Muir says some of those already with jobs on farms haven’t completed the practical part of the programme but she says this is mainly due to farmers wanting staff to help with calving. She says it’s likely they will train at some stage in the future.

She says another reason is that DairyNZ needs to get a reasonable sized group together in a given area to make it worthwhile to deliver the practical training.

Muir says one of the aims of the GoDairy programme is to show the New Zealand public that there are good jobs in the dairy industry, and given the interest to date, this has certainly been the case.

The success of the GoDairy programme comes in the same week the Government launched the ‘Opportunity Grows Here’, a generic campaign aimed at showcasing employment opportunities right across the primary sector. A special website has been set up which shows the variety of jobs available and enables people to link to specific sectors that interest them.

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor says people can often find it hard to get information about a job, so the new website brings opportunities from across the primary sector together into the one place, making it easier for employers and for job seekers.

“Many unemployed people are talented and have skills that are readily transferrable. They just need to know that these opportunities exist – that’s what this campaign is all about. The research we did showed us that people didn’t know about the range of job options in the sector or that they might have the right skills,” he says.

O’Connor says job opportunities aren’t just in remote, labour-based roles. He says some are in our cities and include work in science, technology, business management, marketing and research. 

More like this

From Sky Tower to cowshed

Every morning dairy farmer Sam Waugh sees the Auckland Sky Tower through his window. It's a great reminder of one of his key life goals - giving young people from towns and cities insights into farm life.

Celebrating dairy farmers this International Women's Day

Siobhan O’Malley is a dairy farmer, innovator, businesswoman and community volunteer, an example of the thousands of Kiwi dairy farming women throughout New Zealand who multi-task every day to contribute positively to their communities.

Unique dairy farms open their gates

A dairy farm working to increase endangered skink numbers and a boutique farm selling milk in recycled bottles will open their gates to the public this Sunday.

Featured

Sheep drench resistance costly

Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.

Dairy sheep and goat turmoil

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.

Hurry up and slow down!

OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.

National

Govt urged to reduce ETS units

The Climate Change Commission wants the new Government to reduce NZ Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction volumes as son as…

Dairy sheep, goat woes mount

Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand…

Machinery & Products

All-terrain fert spreading mode

Effluent specialists the Samson Group have developed a new double unloading system to help optimise uphill and downhill organic fertiliser…

Can-Am showcases range

Based on industry data collected by the Motor Industry Association, Can-Am is the number one side-by-side manufacturer in New Zealand.

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Papal visit

OPINION: European farmers are going to extreme lengths to have their message heard.

Thai egg tarts

OPINION: The hustle and bustle of one of Bangkok's most popular fast food outlets may feel a world away from…

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter