Apply For 2025
– Participant

This Statement of Intent (SOI) will be used by the AgCAREERSTART team and potential employers to assess your suitability for a place the program.

INSTRUCTIONS

Your Statement of Intent can be in written or video form. It MUST be 800 words, or 5 minutes in length.

If written, your SOI will be input into a text field in the online application form. If video, you must upload to a cloud-based program (such as DropBox, or YouTube), and enter the link into the appropriate field on the application.

There are couple of key points that you should address in your SOI, including:

• Tell us about the kind of person you are. Why are you a great candidate for the program?
• What interests you about farm work or working in agriculture?
• What unique skills or experience do you have to offer (this includes transferrable skills)?
• What are you looking to get out of an AgCAREERSTART placement?
• Tell us about your long-term goals!
• Talk about any relevant experience or exposure you have with agriculture or farming. Don’t worry if you don’t!
• Throughout the program, you will receive a $4,500 Training and Engagement Bursary to use throughout the year. How do you see yourself using the bursary?

Other things to think about:

• The Statement of Intent is the primary method through which you will be assessed for a position in the program and will influence your ultimate placement.
• It is a professional document, please ensure attention to detail. Whilst it is not assessed for academic rigour, you should put time and effort into ensuring you put your best foot forward.
• Feel free to be as creative as you wish with your SOI. Tell us about you!
• Remember that your potential Host Farmer will read this application.
• Being too specific in your desired farm type or farm location in your SOI may inhibit your ability to be placed.
• Good applications demonstrate that you have researched and thought about what the AgCAREERSTART program can offer you.
• It’s ok if you don’t have agricultural experience. Tell us about your other transferrable skills, community involvement, or other activities that you think your Host Farmer might be interested to know.

You will need to upload a copy of your resumé. This will be viewed by Host Farmers, so make sure it is up to date and relevant. Make sure that your resume includes:

• Correct contact information
• Previous work experience
• Extra-curriculars and volunteer activities
• Education
• Skills
• Interests

You are required to supply a completed AgCAREERSTART Reference with your application. Your referee cannot be a relation. Types of acceptable references could include: school teachers, university lecturers, previous employers, sports coaches, and community leaders. The completed reference will be sent out to potential host farmers with your resume and statement of intent. You can download the AgCAREERSTART Reference form HERE.

In your application, you will also be asked to consider the following questions:

• Where would you be interested in working? You will have the opportunity to tell us where in Australia you would like to work, based on how far away from home you are willing to travel or move. Bear in mind that the more flexible you are to moving to a different geographical location, the greater the chance we will find you a farm match.
• Which are your top preference industries to work in? Take some time to research the many different industries there are in agriculture. We will ask you to prioritise your top preference industries from the following: Grain, Cattle, Sheep/Wool, Dairy, Horticulture, Pork, Poultry, Cotton, Forestry, Cane, Viticulture, Aquaculture/Fisheries, Other. The AgCAREERSTART Team will do their best to place you in your top preference industries.
• Would you be able to source your own accommodation if it is not provided by your host farm? Whilst many of our host farms supply accommodation with their placement, some may not. In this case, we need to know if you would be willing to source your own, such as rental accommodation, or staying with friends or family. Having this information helps us to match you with an appropriate farm.

Once applications close on the 29th September, we enter the shortlisting and matching phase, which runs as follows:

• Shortlisting conducted by the AgCAREERSTART team
• Shortlisting outcome notification – Wednesday, 2nd October
• COMPULSORY online psychometric testing* for shortlisted candidates – 2nd-6th October
• Matching commences from Monday, 7th October, until complete.

*Note: shortlisted candidates who do not complete psychometric testing in the window provided will not proceed to matching.

If successful in securing a place in the 2025 intake, you will be required to attend an in-person Orientation Week, January 12-16, 2025. Your travel and accommodation will be provided for this.