The Esperance Farm Training Centre (EFTC) is a campus of Esperance Senior High School that is a working farm, providing an integrated agricultural education to students in Year 10-12. The farm is 820ha and is located on the south coast, 35km north of Esperance and 723km south-east of Perth.
The farm enterprises include broad acre cropping of barley, wheat, canola, oats and lupins, beef cattle production, prime lamb production, wool production and specialist programs in stud cattle (Red Angus) and stud sheep, and Emergency Services Cadets.
Our goal is to provide quality education and training for the agricultural related industries that meets the needs and expectations of our students and the wider community.
We have students from Year 10 to 12 that start on the pathway towards their completion of a Certificate II in Agriculture (National Training Package – AHC20116).
Work Experience & Workplace Learning
Work experience (Yr 10) and Workplace Learning (Yrs 11-12) forms an integral part of a well-rounded agricultural education. Students will undertake 1 week a term placement with an employer which usually occurs towards the end of term but may be subject to change dependent on seasonal variation (such as seeding, lambing, calving, harvesting).
Students are offered flexibility with WPL timing due to the nature of agricultural production and may undertake a different block week based on need. Successful attainment in Work Placement contributes to WACE and provides students with industry experience and contacts that are valuable in furthering future education and work opportunities.
Emergency Service Cadet Corps
Under the provision of CADETS WA; EFTC provide all students with SCSA endorsed ESCC cadets program with Department of Fire and Emergency Services with Yr 10’s undertaking Recruitment Level and Yrs 11 and 12 enrolled in Level 1 Cadets.
ESCC Cadets aims to provide students with lifelong skills that help build confidence and capabilities; develop leadership and build community responsibility. Some areas ESCC provide skills in including first aid; firefighting; search and rescue and marine safety. These opportunities compliment the skills sets encouraged in the agricultural program.
Year 10 Rural Skills Program
The Year 10 Rural Skills program is an integrated program delivered on site at EFTC for Year 10 students. Students experience all aspects of an agricultural education that link directly into Year 11 and 12 pathways. The Year 10 program is made up of a combination of Australian Curriculum and “real” on-farm experience, aimed at providing a broad introduction to all aspects of farming enterprises and to enable them to make informed choices when selecting their Year 11 and 12 pathways. The Rural Skills program incorporates elements of animal handling and husbandry; an introduction to cropping operations; agricultural work health and safety and working effectively in the industry.
Each week students will complete Australian Curriculum courses in English, Maths, Science, Humanities and Social Sciences, Health and Physical Education over approximately three days, with the other two days spread across the farm and the workshop.
Upper School Agricultural Program
Students in Year 11 and 12 complete a Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) and a Certificate II in Agriculture delivered by South Regional TAFE.
While at the EFTC, students will be enrolled in Certificate II in Agriculture which is delivered on site at EFTC by an experienced SR TAFE lecturer and complete English, Maths, Animal Production Systems, Materials Design and Technology: Metals; all at the General level to gain the required credits for WACE.
As part of the Vocational Education and Training program, students will also complete blocks of Workplace Learning every term. This gives our students a chance to gain valuable experience and improve their knowledge and skills within the industry.
