AGRICULTUTAL training and workforce development initiatives underway in the region will be the focus of a free online webinar held tonight.

The webinar will provide attendees with the opportunity to hear about FUSE South West and how it is working in partnership with YACVic Rural, Glenelg Shire Council, Glenelg Southern Grampians LLEN, Food and Fibre Great South Coast, Community Southwest, and Barwon Health to offer a diverse range of free training programs and hands-on experiences, with the support of local businesses and community service providers.

The online event will be hosted by Food and Fibre Great South Coast chief executive, Natalie Collard, who will speak with representatives from FUSE South West and the AgFutures initiative on the need for a new approach to building a home grown agricultural workforce in Barwon South West, and how they are working towards achieving this.

Anyone is welcome to join the free event, with employers and livestock farmers in the south-west who are looking to employ entry-level workers in the next eight months, or who work in agricultural workforce development, encouraged to attend.

The interactive format will allow attendees to have their questions answered while they hear about how they can be part of the community-led initiative working towards building the next generation of agricultural workers.

An area of focus will be the AgFutures initiative and how it is working with employers and industry stakeholders in the region to build a co-designed and supported pathway for young people into entry-level agricultural work.

Through working with employers, AgFutures is building training that meets their needs, and with supports provided to those taking part. The online event will run from 6.30-7.15pm tonight through Zoom, with more information available at events.humanitix.com/webinar-building-a-homegrown-agricultural-workforce-for-the-barwon-south-west