The Gardiner Dairy Foundation is pleased to announce that applications for the 2019 New Zealand (NZ) Study Tour are now open.
Over the eight-day tour, young Victorian dairy industry representatives will immerse themselves in the NZ dairy industry. The tour will expose participants to a range of dairy technologies and different dairying operations, as well as developing their leadership capabilities.
The Study Tour provides participants with the opportunity to interact with representatives from the Federated Farmers of NZ.
The NZ Study Tour is an innovative leadership tour auspiced by the United Dairyfarmers of Victoria (UDV) and funded by the Gardiner Dairy Foundation.
Gardiner Dairy Foundation CEO, Dr Clive Noble spoke about the opportunities that the NZ Study Tour provides.
“The Gardiner Foundation recognises the importance of investing in young people to provide them with first hand experiences to be able to compare both the New Zealand and Australian dairy industriesy.
“We are very pleased to be offering the NZ Study Tour to another group of young Victorian dairy industry representatives. Participants will embark on a journey that offers a range of unique educational experiences and opportunities to collaborate with like-minded dairy people.
“It is very rewarding to see participants gain experience and knowledge of an industry they are passionate about, and that will benefit the dairy sector as a whole,” said Dr Noble.
Katherine Byrne, who completed the 2018 NZ Study Tour, described the experience as being an amazing opportunity.
“The NZ Study Tour was truly an awesome experience, I have gained lifelong friends and got the chance to not only see how dairy farming is done in NZ but to see a lot of NZ itself. I would recommend anyone passionate about dairy to apply,” said Katherine.
To be eligible for the NZ Study Tour, applicants must be aged between 18 and 35 years old, be actively involved within the dairy industry, either on or off the farm, and hold an Australian passport. Participants must also be currently enrolled in or have recently completed studies relating to the dairy industry.
Applications for the NZ Study Tour close on Monday, 15 October, with selection interviews to be held in Melbourne. To apply, please visit www.vff.org.au/UDVTour.