A new program will provide high school leavers the opportunity to take a gap year working on a farm in regional Australia. 

The partnership between the Australian Government and the National Farmers' Federation (NFF) has developed AgCAREERSTART, a 12-month program which will send young Australians on a paid farm placement. 

On-farm placements are set to begin in March this year, the participants will be provided with on-site safety training and VET (Vocational Education & Training) scholarships to upskill. 

The program was developed to provide school leavers an opportunity for a gap year in their own backyard at a time international travel is not a viable option. 

NFF Chief Executive Officer Tony Mahar said that students will have the same gap year experience within Australia and gain skills will doing it. 

“Young people are finishing school in a world of uncertainty. They still need that well-earned break from study, and they want to gain independence, even more so after almost two years of online lessons and being stuck at home,” Mr Mahar said. 

“Participants will be matched with an on-farm job, given training and development, and granted access to industry events and experiences with their AGCAREERSTART cohort. They can learn something new in a hands-on way, while gaining valuable life experience." 

Students taking part in the gap year program will be employed under award wages on the chosen farm for up to a year and government funded relocation assistance can be claimed. 

Romy Ainslee graduated from Year 12 last year and will be taking part in the gap year program. 

Ms Ainslee currently lives in Lower Portland in NSW and graduated from Hawkesbury High School where she gained an interest in agriculture after taking the subject at school. 

"With AgCAREERSTART I don’t mind what type of agriculture I end up doing or where I get placed, as long as I get the opportunity to learn some new skills,” Ms Ainslee said. 

“I’ve been stuck in the same place my whole life and I’m keen to get out there and try something different.". 

Applications for both farmer hosts and participants are now open at the AgCAREERSTART website.