The Association is committed to ensuring that rural families have access to high quality education services.  Education plays a vital role in delivering agricultural competitiveness and provides an opportunity to nurture our vibrant rural youth.  Whether attending a local rural school or boarding in a major regional centre, students should be allowed to attend the education institution of their choice.

The Association believes students should be allowed to attend the education institution of their choice.  This choice is often influenced by the availability of adequate and affordable facilities, access to educational allowances and reliable, all-weather school transport.  Whilst some regions have seen improvements in some or all of these areas, there is more work to be done to achieve more equitable education services for students in rural and remote NSW.  Priorities include funding for preschool and small rural schools, together with finding solutions to poor education outcomes from schools in specific areas.

The Rural Affairs team is focused on delivering positive outcomes in the following areas in 2005/06:

• Rural Education
  o A successful Rural Education Forum leading to improved agricultural representation in all
     curriculum (focusing initially on K-6 and 7-12, then tertiary and vocational)
  o Improvements to the Country Areas Program (achieving equity for small isolated schools)
  o Improved utilisation of Murrumbidgee residential facilities
  o Ensuring maintenance of Agricultural Management (and related) degrees through tertiary institutions

• FarmBis III
  o Continued lobbying for delivery of FarmBis III in NSW

• Young Parents Network
  o Establishment of an online forum for members who are young parents and have an
     interest in education issues

• Annual Conference Motions
  o Timely delivery of education-related motions

Related Issues

FarmBis
Following the May 2007 announcement that FarmBis subsidised training would finally be returning to NSW in the form of a new, nationally coordinated FarmBis programme, the new Federal Government has announced that FarmBis will be terminating three years earlier than expected, on 30 June 2008.  Please click here for further information.
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Rural Skills, Training and Research
The Association recently lodged a submission in response to the Inquiry into Rural Skills Training and Research conducted by the House of Representatives Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Committee.  Click here for a copy of the submission.

The Association also lodged a submission in response to the Standing Committee on State Development Inquiry into Skills Shortages in Rural and Regional NSW.  Click here for a copy of the submission.

Landlearn – An Education Portal For Factual Agricultural Information
The NSW Farmers’ Association, together with eth NSW Department of Primary Industry (DPI) and the Royal Show Society (RAS) have been developing an educational internet portal to promote agriculture to students.

The concept originated from the three organizations wanting to make factual information about agriculture readily available to students.  Click here to view our briefing note.