Celebrating 10 Years of the Primary Industries Facility

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Primary Industries Facility at Ardlethan Central School, a significant milestone in the school’s commitment to providing quality vocational and agricultural education opportunities for students.

Officially opened on 8 June 2016, the facility was funded through the Australian Government’s Trade Training Centres in Schools Program. The facility was officially opened by Michael McCormack.

Over the past decade, the Primary Industries Facility has provided students with valuable hands-on learning experiences, helping them develop practical skills and industry knowledge in agriculture and related fields. The facility has supported learning in areas including livestock production, fencing, welding, machinery operation, workplace safety, and agricultural enterprises.

Hundreds of students from all Riverina Access Partnership (RAP) schools have benefited from access to industry-standard facilities, allowing them to connect classroom learning with real-world applications and explore future career pathways in agriculture and primary industries.

The facility stands as a testament to the vision and investment made through the Trade Training Centres in Schools Program, which aimed to provide regional students with greater access to vocational education and training opportunities. Ten years later, that investment continues to deliver lasting benefits for students, schools, and communities across the region.

As we celebrate this milestone, we acknowledge the contributions of the staff, students, community members, industry partners, and government representatives who have helped make the facility such a success.

Today, the Primary Industries Facility continues to provide students with practical, hands-on learning opportunities and remains an important part of agricultural education at Ardlethan Central School and the RAP network.

~ Ben Minchin