9 September 2024

Deniliquin high school students have been put squarely in the driver’s seat as part of a landmark farm vehicle safety course at TAFE NSW.

Year 11 students studying the Certificate II in Agriculture through TAFE NSW from Deniliquin High School last week attended the three-day Farm Vehicle Safety Program at Murray Valley Industry Park.

The students received both theory and practical training on quad bikes, side by sides and two-wheelers, and were also instructed on loading quad bikes on a trailer and securing loads to quad bikes.

The course, funded by the NSW Department of Education, will be delivered to dozens of high schools across the region - and the state - over the coming months.

Quad bikes are the leading cause of death and injury on Australian farms and an average of 15 people die annually on quads, with about 1400 people sustaining serious injuries each year.

TAFE NSW Teacher of Agriculture Andrew Baxter, who helped deliver the course in Deni, said it was critical the foundations for on-farm safety were laid early.

“Quad bikes, trail bikes and ATVs are essential pieces of farm equipment and so it’s essential young people are equipped to deal with the very real dangers they pose,” Mr Harris said.

“Whether its mustering sheep, inspecting fences or doing a water run, these vehicles are part of living on a farm.

“Our communities have seen all too often the tragic results that can occur when something goes wrong on one of these vehicles.”

The course offers teens hands-on tuition, allowing them to better identify hazards and build confidence on the vehicles.

Mr Baxter said the “highly practical” course helped students earn credit towards a Certificate III in Agriculture.

Students from Barham High School took part in a similar course late last week.

Deniliquin High student Dakota McKenzie, 16, said the course had given her practical tips on safety that she will carry into her ag career.

“I’m hoping to take a gap year and work on a station after school and then I’m considering a career in animal nutrition or vet science,” Dakota said.

“The course has been a great opportunity to learn to actively ride on different vehicles and to make yourself safer by adjusting your body weight on the vehicle in different situations.”

Media contact: Dan Johns, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, 0477 722 428