The Agriculture Program at Roma State College focuses on providing a range of educational experiences so that students:
- understand the importance of agriculture as a key industry in Australia
- understand how to manage our land in a sustainable way for the future
- investigate the latest technology applications in agriculture
- explore the diverse, highly skilled and educated career options in the agricultural industries
Student Opportunities
The Agricultural Program at our school involves more than 200 students. For our primary-age students, exposure through this program includes informal opportunities to engage with Agriculture such as Under 8's Day and animal visits in the classroom. Students are also encouraged to participate in classroom vegetable garden initiatives and chicken hatching projects.
As students progress to the junior secondary stage of their learning, they are exposed to more specific agricultural enterprises. During this phase, they will investigate native bee production, poultry, horticulture and plant propagation and aquaculture (Blue Claw enterprise). Their learning is supported by a number of experiments and hands-on experiences at our school farm facilities.
During the senior secondary stage of our students learning, Roma State College students have the option to pursue Agricultural Science as a general senior subject or Agricultural Practices as an applied senior subject. Agricultural Practices provides opportunities for students to gain knowledge and practical skills valued in an agricultural work environment. It includes the study of animal anatomy and physiology, health and the diagnosis/treatment of disease, tractor and machinery operation, yard building and stock handling. Alternatively, Agricultural Science concerns the application of science in a real world context. Students who choose Agricultural Science study concepts such as soil science, sustainability and landcare, animal nutrition, reproduction genetics and beef breeding technology, plant anatomy and pasture identification.
School Farm Facilities
Under the Future Skills Pathways Program, Roma State College has recently been allocated $1.9 million by the state government to upgrade our school farm facilities. Work on this project has started and is due for completion in mid 2023.