Liz Ford and Amy Nash, our QFVG-hosted Queensland Agricultural Workforce Network Officers (QAWN) for Southern and Southeast Queensland, have been busy fostering connections between agribusinesses looking to connect with new employees, as well as inspiring the next generation of our all-important agricultural workforce.

Agricultural producers in Toowoomba and surrounds are set to benefit from the new Agri-Connect Pilot Initiative that bridges the gap between employers and the skilled workforce they need, creating opportunities for the region’s producers and talent pool of skilled migrants living locally.

A new industry-led training program is supporting Queensland farmers to access high-quality, modern and flexible training across the state.

At QFVG we know horticulture is an essential sector, and attracting young minds is just one piece of the puzzle to ensuring its vibrant future.

Janne Dipple describes herself as a woman who wears two hats. With 20 years’ experience working in adult education and training Janne has design and run training across all kinds of subjects.

A love for people in the agricultural sector is what drew Amy Nash to her new post as the Queensland Agriculture Workforce Network (QAWN) Officer for South East Queensland.

More than 800 primary school students in the Toowoomba area got hands-on with fruit and vegetables as part of the Moo Baa Munch event held at Downlands College.

Liz Ford has never been far from agriculture. Having grown up in Mt Isa before settling in Laidley, Liz has spent the last 15 years working in agribusiness workforce management across the Lockyer Valley Region.

Attraction and retention of labour across horticulture is a major challenge and to guide today’s youth to take up jobs in the industry, the career-based workshop – the AgTech Elite School Holiday Program – was created.

Attracting and retaining staff in the age of the great resignation – it’s a goal Growcom’s Queensland Agriculture Workforce Network (QAWN) staff strive toward by supporting employers and employees across the supply chain to develop new skillsets.

Putting boots on farms in the Darling Downs region is in full swing, through the Diverse Queensland Workforce (DQW) program being delivered by Growcom in collaboration with The Mulberry Project.