$14.7 Million for Investment in Rural People in NSW
February 22, 2017

The NSW Government in Australia last month announced a $14.7 million investment in training for the cotton and grain industries across the state. The funding is part of the NSW Government’s Ag Skilled strategy, developed in close consultation with Cotton Australia and will be allocated over a three-year period.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional Development, Skills and Small Business John Barilaro, announced the funding while on a visit to the Rimanui Cotton farm in Moree.

“Agriculture is a key growth sector for the NSW economy and the State Government is committed to providing industry-specific training to adapt to the needs of regional employers like Cotton Australia and the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC),” Mr Barilaro says.

“This program will help attract individuals and families to live and work in regional NSW and reskill existing workers for the jobs of tomorrow.”

It will fund training in emerging technologies, including the use of drones and satellite data, as well as farm machinery and business management.

Cotton Australia CEO Adam Kay says the support will provide new pathways to skills for the State’s agricultural workforce.

“The cotton industry alone is worth more than $1 billion to the nation’s economy each year and it’s an important driver of economic activity in dozens of rural and regional communities in NSW,” Mr Kay says.

“We’re constantly looking at new ways to develop our workforce to ensure that prospective farmers and workers have access to the best education opportunities.”

“We’re delighted to be working with the NSW Government on this exciting new opportunity to gear up our people with the best quality and latest training.”

Photo caption: State Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall, NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro, Sophie O’Neill from B&W Rural Moree, Adam Kay from Cotton Australia and Gordon Cumming from the GRDC.