Cotton Australia has wrapped up a busy period of education and industry engagement activities, connecting with teachers, students and future workforce employees throughout the regions. 

The latest Teach the Teacher session for the year was delivered in Moree recently, with one to be held in Rockhampton on Tuesday 23 June. Other sessions had to be cancelled due to weather, so there are plans in place for these to be held later in the year. So far this year, dozens of teachers have gained valuable insights into cotton growing and processing - knowledge they can now take back to their classrooms to help students better understand the industry. 

School students have also had the opportunity to experience cotton production firsthand, with a number of excursions to local gins and farms hosted over recent months by Cotton Australia’s regional managers. These hands-on experiences continue to play an important role in bringing the cotton story to life for young people. 

Engagement with students considering future careers in agriculture has also been a strong focus. Cotton Australia’s Education Manager Jenny Hughes, Northern NSW Regional Manager Richard Gray and myBMP Sustainability Implementation Officer Annette McCaffery attended the Northwest Careers Expo in Tamworth last month. Richard also joined a grower at the Agricultural Careers Expo at Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School in Tamworth this week, providing students with direct insight into career pathways in the cotton industry. 

In Queensland, Cotton Australia’s Darling Downs Regional Manager Howard Coggan participated in the University of Queensland Agricultural Science Society’s Beers n Careers event in Gatton. The evening featured fast-paced, “career speed dating”-style conversations between students and industry representatives, focused on career pathways, job opportunities and work experience. The event is one of many initiatives sponsored by Cotton Australia to help attract employees to the sector. 

Earlier in the year, Cotton Australia also sponsored the University of Sydney Agriculture Society’s Networking Night, providing an opportunity for students to connect with industry leaders and explore the diverse career opportunities available in agriculture. Jenny Hughes attended the event and welcomed the chance to reconnect with undergraduate students who had volunteered at the Sydney Royal Easter Show over recent years.