RIST Wool Overview Program

Earlier this Term RIST gave two groups of eight Year 9 students the opportunity to get an insight into the wool industry through interactive workshops held over two consecutive days. It incorporated hands-on engaging practical activities that provided a holistic overview of the wool processing pipeline, and the many career pathways in wool growing, shearing and shearing shed operations, wool handling and classing, sheep husbandry, wool testing, wool buying/selling and brokering & wool processing. This was most timely as Careers in the wool industry are in increasing demand from wool grower or farm manager to scientist or fashion designer, the wool industry has thousands of career paths.

A combined account from a few of the students on some of the activities done was “we went to a property on the other side of Penshurst, where we learnt how to shear and throw a fleece. We took turns to shear and rousey, then we grabbed the back legs of the fleece and threw it on the table to be skirted and classed. The fleece is then pressed up into a wool bale. Thank you to everyone from RIST who taught us everything and made the two days a very fun experience”.

Monivae provides opportunities for Students to further their interest in Agriculture at Year10 and subsequent years through School-based apprenticeship and VET agriculture courses. Both pathways can be credited toward a VCAL or VCE qualification.

Anne Gough

VET/VCAL