Cultivating Environmental Leadership: Lake Cowal Careers Day
At the Lake Cowal Schools Careers Day, Britt Hicks inspired 135 students with insights on careers in natural resource management and agriculture, emphasizing local opportunities and continuing generational land knowledge.
Collaborations - LEP23_036_LLC4_1
The issue
As senior high school students start out on their career journey, it can be difficult for them to discern the expanse of opportunities available within industries such as agriculture and environmental science without proper exposure and guidance. This is particularly so in our remote and small town communities. Many rewarding and fulfilling career paths exist in these fields, yet students may remain unaware of them until they embark on their own career endeavours.
The solution
The Lake Cowal Schools Careers Day, organised as part of the Evolution Cowal Gold Mine Schools Day, provided a platform to introduce students to a variety of mining, teaching, environmental science, natural resource management and agriculture jobs presented by local Lake Cowal people. Three tours of school groups offered a comprehensive itinerary, featuring presentations, interactive sessions and site visit to Cowal gold mine and the Lake Cowal Conservation Centre, tailored to the interests of the participating students. Environmental professionals, including Britt Hicks from Murrumbidgee Landcare, Sally Russell from Lake Cowal Conservation Centre, along with the environment team, engineering team mechanics, electrical and administration staff from Evolution Cowal Gold mine, delivered presentations showcasing their own career paths. Britt’s presentation emphasised the significance of balancing a job in environmental natural resource management and a job in the local family farm. Britt spoke passionately about preserving generational knowledge of the land and fostering farming family unit cohesion amidst the rise of corporate influence in the agricultural sector and the region. She also spoke to the variety of career highlights, of opportunity, field work, travel experiences, training and personal development in her 10 year career through Landcare and the Lake Cowal Foundation.
The impact
The Lake Cowal Schools Day had an audience of around 135 students from various schools in the district, including Ungarie Central School, West Wyalong High School, Tullibigeal Central School, Henrey Lawson High School, Forbes Redbend College, Temora High School and Condobolin High School. Students got a view of what their career might look like and the value of staying local in their rural small towns.
Key facts
- 135 students reached.
- 7 different schools attended.
- Murrumbidgee Landcare staff presented on natural resource management and agriculture industries.