Farm plans come to fruition for Macey

Macey has spent her whole life on her parents’ dairy farm at Framlingham in south-west Victoria and when it came to study, she didn’t want to venture off course.

“I’ve always been interested in ag and really enjoy it,” she said. “I’ve been brought up around it and don’t know much different.”

During 2024-25, Macey completed the Certificate II in Agriculture in 2025 at Warrnambool’s Brauer College through the South West TAFE VET DSS program.

Not only was Macey named student of the year for her results, the course also led to a full-time job, with options to pursue further study in the future.

“Because I come from an ag background, I knew most of the basics but it was good to reinforce what I’ve learnt on the farm and find out new things, like the chemical side of it,” Macey said. “And because I went to a public school, it was free.”

Macey, 18, is now working for Gully View Dairy at nearby Panmure and is relishing the opportunity while weighing up her future options. She may study a Certificate III in Agriculture through South West TAFE later this year, do some short courses through Dairy Australia, continue with her earlier plan to study agribusiness and agronomy at Longerenong College, or potentially wait and return to study in her 20s at Marcus Oldham College.

Or she may just continue working. “Because I enjoy it so much, I don’t know if I want to return to study, though I realise it would be beneficial if I do.”

Macey has long-term plans to return to the family Jersey farm, but in the meantime, she’s enjoying learning a new system and working with Holsteins.

“I’m learning different things here compared to what my dad taught me,” Macey said. When I’m here, I do it how they want. Everyone is different with how they farm and I like it all.

“I used to work in a butcher, a chemist and a pub…but on a farm I like that the cows don’t talk back to me and there’s always something different to do.”

More details about studying at South West TAFE can be found at https://www.swtafe.edu.au/ or call 1300 648 911.