MEDIA RELEASE - Curtin University students take a foodie look at the Southern Forests Region
May 2016
A group of Curtin University Agribusiness students travelled to Manjimup this week to look at food production and processing businesses in the region, as part of a push to establish further links between University and Agrifood businesses in the region.
This was the third group of Agribusiness students to visit the area, hosted by the Royalties for Regions funded, Southern Forests SEED Program, which aims to provide linkages between educators and industry in order to promote the career opportunities available in the region's Agrifood sector.
Shire President Wade DeCampo noted that some of the students haven't even been to the South West. "This would have been a real eye opener for them, having never experienced the types of agriculture and food production that we have here. The SEED Program has been implemented to do just that; showcase areas of agriculture that students and education providers may not have ever had an association with and spark their interests in an agriculture based career in the Southern Forests region."
The students visited the new processing centre at Advanced Packing and Marketing Services, CharCol Springs pastured egg farm and Manjimup Truffles.
SEED Program Education Development Officer, Stephanie Carstairs, said that Curtin Agribusiness visits were really important for establishing a network between students, researchers and local businesses.
"Most of the students will graduate this year, so by making these links we open the doors for potential research or future employment," she said.
"For the industry to grow, it needs skilled people, and by showcasing it to third year students, we attract them to the region and the industry."
-ENDS-
Authorised by Andrew Campbell, Chief Executive Officer
Contact Gina Nieuwendyk, Coordinator Communication and Executive Support
Contact: 9771 7777
Contact for comment: Wade DeCampo, Shire President
Contact: 0427 094 081
