The embattled Australian dairy industry, which has struggled with low milk prices and dry conditions in recent years, has recruited a former Narrabri cotton researcher in an attempt to inject more young skilled workers into the industry.
Kate McMaster is originally from the Central Coast region of NSW, but in recent years has worked at the Australian Cotton Research Institute between Wee Waa and Narrabri.
Kate has kick-started a new career in the dairy industry by winning a hotly contested national scholarship run by Dairy Australia.
Kate holds a Bachelor of Food Science and Human Nutrition and has this week started working with dairy industry experts to learn about dairy manufacturing.
She will also do placements at dairy production hubs across Australia including Warrnambool Cheese and Butter, Murray Goulburn, Bega Cheese, Barossa Valley Cheese, Fonterra, Burra Foods, Parmalat, Bulla Foods, Lion and Coles.
Kate is particularly looking forward to finding out more about cheese making.
“I am excited to learn more about the development of raw food through processing into a marketed product. From a graduate perspective, the program is a great stepping stone into the industry and into real-life experiences,” Kate said.
Her broader interest in the agricultural sector was sparked during her time in Narrabri.
“After living in a rural community I jumped at the opportunity to work with farmers and in the field of food production,” Kate said.
“This scholarship provides an opportunity to enhance knowledge from University and hopefully start a long term career in the dairy industry.
I’m hoping at the end of this I’ll be able to start at a dairy company in the manufacturing field, either in Victoria, Tasmania or southern NSW.”
The 2015 program received a large number of applications and the judging panel said it was a challenging task to choose the winners based on academic excellence, work experience and passion for the dairy industry.
All graduates who took part in the 2014 program gained employment in the dairy food industry within six weeks of completing the program.