The first exposure the cotton industry had to linking industry developed training programs to the vocational education sector occurred between 2002‐2005, with the funding of an extension project called the IPM Training Coordinator (project AC 4.2.04). The experience was extremely positive and well received by industry. Subsequently, the Cotton Training Coordinator project (5.1.01) was established. It was a strategic position within the Cotton Catchment Communities CRC extension team. The project had three foci. Firstly, to assist in the development and implementation of industry funded training across all research areas. Secondly, to identify training opportunities within cotton that had potential alignment to the vocational education system. Finally, the third was to build networks and relationships within the vocational educational and training sector. Achieving these objectives would advance the development of a training culture and increase the influence of the cotton industry within the national training agenda.

Establishing and resourcing a Cotton Training Coordinator for the industry provided a contact point for the vocational education and training sector to engage with the cotton industry. A good working relationship with various vocational organisations such as Agrifood Industry Skills Council, Department of Education Employment and Work Relations and the Queensland’s Department of Education, Training and the Arts (DETA) was created generating various invitations to joint numerous project steering and advisory committees. This strategic involvement has ensured the cotton industry skills needs are tabled for consideration at the federal and state training agenda. Active participation in the development of the 2007 and 2008 Queensland Rural Skills plan is one example of this beneficial interaction. This plan has been prepared by the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries to help advise DETA in Queensland on the required agricultural skill needs .

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The project has proven the viability of linking field extension activities with units of competencies from the Australian Qualification Training Framework. The Cotton and Grains Irrigation Workshop series is a good example of how this practical link can occur. The workshops are short three hour in‐field events that have been developed to assist the adoption of industry research in water management. The development of the workshop contents addressed the key research / extension messages in addition to the requirements of selected water and environmental units of competency from the Rural Production training package. The vocational alignment provides greater rigour to the final product and provides a clear pathway for producers to obtain a formal qualification in the future if they wish to do so by using this training experience. Potentially, a more effective use of their time.

This project’s development and industry endorsement by Australian Cotton Industry Council (ACIC‐ peak industry body) for a new industry award known as the Certified BMP Farm Manager (aka Diploma of Agriculture – specialising in cotton production) is another significant milestone. The training coordinator was able to demonstrate how a unique skill set developed by an individual via the implementing and achieving BMP accreditation for their farm, can be assessed and recognised by the vocational sector as achieving a Diploma of Agriculture ‐ Specialising in Cotton Production. The process of achieving a certified BMP Farm Manager award is not an automatic granting upon a farm achieving accreditation. Rather the applicant undertakes an assessment via the recognition of prior learning pathway to demonstrate their new skill sets. This assessment is substantial and rigourous with an independent registered training organisation (RTO) conducting the process. Successful applicants receive both the Diploma from the RTO and an award from industry. This new industry award provides the eligible individual with a marketable skill both within and outside the irrigated farming system. A legacy this project has been generated for years to come.