Humanities News

Hands-On Humanities at Food and Fibre

Our Year 9 Geography students recently had an exciting day at Victoria's largest Food and Fibre Careers Event at the Melbourne University Dookie Campus. Over a full day, 400 students from 20 schools, educators, and scientists came together to explore career opportunities in Agriculture, Horticulture, AgTech, Agribusiness, and more.

Students had the freedom to choose their own workshops, resulting in a personalised and engaging experience. Highlights included seeing the Dookie Robotic Dairy in action and learning about AI in agriculture. One student shared, "The best was definitely the robot and AI dairy! They even had a back scratcher for the cows!"

The Ag Innovation Panel inspired future entrepreneurs, while hands-on workshops like Sweet Science captivated students. "I loved the Sweet Science workshop where we worked out the sugar content in foods and drinks," said one enthusiastic participant.

Other popular sessions included learning about beekeeping, Indigenous foods, and the future of farming technology. A student who attended the workshop on space agriculture remarked, "The best workshop was about what plants we will be growing on the moon."

Sheep handling was another favourite, with one student saying, "I loved moving sheep around," while another added, "I loved learning about sheep handling."

During the lunch break, students enjoyed a sausage sizzle on the lawns, recharging for the afternoon sessions.

The day was described by many as "very educating," providing a hands-on, insightful look into the diverse career paths within the Food and Fibre sector in our region. As one student rightly said: “not all exciting careers have to start in Melbourne”. With such a rich array of activities, students left inspired and excited about their future in agriculture.

Thank you to Campaspe Cohuna Local Learning and Employment Network Inc. (CCLLEN) and to Melbourne University Dookie Campus for putting on such a great day.

Ruth Phillips

Humanities Leader