Indonesian students to set foot on cattle country

Twenty agricultural science students from universities in Indonesia are due to arrive at Katherine Rural Campus next week to receive vital skills training before they relocate to pastoral properties across northern Australia.

Agriculture and Rural Operations Team Leader Tim Biggs said this was the third consecutive year that Katherine Rural Campus had hosted a group of Indonesian undergraduates.

“We will work with Civil Train, St John Ambulance, and the Department of Primary Industry to equip students with a solid set of skills that will allow them to hit the ground running when they arrive at a cattle station,” Mr Biggs said.

“There will be an emphasis on work-place safety, first-aid and how to provide basic emergency life support,” Mr Biggs said.

“They will also learn how to handle cattle, how to operate motorbikes and how to maintain fences and paddocks, among other things.”

Mr Biggs said the group would be based at the campus for three weeks before departing for properties in the NT and Western Australia where he expected they would make a significant difference in what was typically a busy time of year.

“The weeks leading into the dry season are some of the busiest of the year for pastoralists as they muster their cattle for branding, vaccinations and pregnancy tests.”

Mr Biggs recently hosted a delegation comprising representatives from Gadjah Mada University, Andalas University, the University of Nusa Cendana and Benart Livestock Katherine.

“We were delighted to have an opportunity to strengthen our ties with our Indonesian counterparts, especially given the buzz of optimism permeating the Territory’s pastoral industry at the moment.

“I think they recognised that the future is looking bright for the industry, with high cattle prices, strong demand and growing markets.”