On-farm learning brings new people into dairy industry Having Primary ITO supporting their on-farm team to learn on the job enables Waikato dairy farmers Mel and Josh Thomson to bring people with no experience into the dairy industry, says Mel. "New employees can learn the skills they need on the job quickly if they enrol to learn through Primary ITO while they are working," says Mel. Mel and Josh farm at Tokoroa and have two learners currently doing the New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture Dairy Farming Level 3 programme with Primary ITO. Rangi Marunui and Tawera Sydney are also planning to do the Level 4 programme. "To train new staff you need to set aside time and have patience. Because we have got the support of Primary ITO to help us, we can confidently employ people new to the industry and give them an opportunity to grow and progress," says Mel. Primary ITO Training Adviser Vanessa Wanhill has worked in a range of dairy farming positions, including manager and sharemilker, and supports Rangi and Tawera. "I love seeing learners succeed and achieve their goals. Helping others to achieve what I achieved is like giving back for me," says Vanessa. Primary ITO training advisers are in regular contact with learners to support their progress, and meet with employers and learners at least four times a year to set a training plan. Learners attend classes, study days and nights at intervals during their learning. A learning support team and mentors are available to learners who require additional support. Mel says the programme is built around the farm calendar with calving and mating learning modules well placed just before these occur on farm. Both learners came from different careers and are on the path to succeed and progress in the dairy industry, she says. "They will go on and do well in this industry. Often people just need to be given that opportunity." "I would recommend the Primary ITO learning programmes to other farmers because the training is well supported." Interested in on-the-job learning? Contact Vanessa Wanhill on 027 889 3968 or vanessa.wanhill@primaryito.ac.nz PrimaryITO Te Pkenga On - farm learning brings new people into dairy industry Having Primary ITO supporting their on - farm team to learn on the job enables Waikato dairy farmers Mel and Josh Thomson to bring people with no experience into the dairy industry , says Mel . " New employees can learn the skills they need on the job quickly if they enrol to learn through Primary ITO while they are working , " says Mel . Mel and Josh farm at Tokoroa and have two learners currently doing the New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture Dairy Farming Level 3 programme with Primary ITO . Rangi Marunui and Tawera Sydney are also planning to do the Level 4 programme . " To train new staff you need to set aside time and have patience . Because we have got the support of Primary ITO to help us , we can confidently employ people new to the industry and give them an opportunity to grow and progress , " says Mel . Primary ITO Training Adviser Vanessa Wanhill has worked in a range of dairy farming positions , including manager and sharemilker , and supports Rangi and Tawera . " I love seeing learners succeed and achieve their goals . Helping others to achieve what I achieved is like giving back for me , " says Vanessa . Primary ITO training advisers are in regular contact with learners to support their progress , and meet with employers and learners at least four times a year to set a training plan . Learners attend classes , study days and nights at intervals during their learning . A learning support team and mentors are available to learners who require additional support . Mel says the programme is built around the farm calendar with calving and mating learning modules well placed just before these occur on farm . Both learners came from different careers and are on the path to succeed and progress in the dairy industry , she says . " They will go on and do well in this industry . Often people just need to be given that opportunity . " " I would recommend the Primary ITO learning programmes to other farmers because the training is well supported . " Interested in on - the - job learning ? Contact Vanessa Wanhill on 027 889 3968 or vanessa.wanhill@primaryito.ac.nz PrimaryITO Te Pkenga