Silverdale Academy Summer Newsletter

Silverdale Academy Newsletter

GRADUATES READY FOR THE WORKPLACE

On completion of our programs, our graduates are now looking for opportunities to get a start in the industry. Are you interested in taking on new employees? Our vision is to build employment opportunities for graduates under traineeships where they continue to build their qualifications studying at TAFE whilst working. 

Our graduates are also extremely keen and motivated following completion of our intern and school programs, to be placed into work experience. Work experience offers a wonderful opportunity for graduates to gain a full understanding of where they might want their career to lead as well as industry to perhaps be able to find their next great employee. There are so many different areas in our industry to work, whether it be thoroughbred breeding, racing & training, grounds, track work jockey, strappers, marketing etc. Before graduating from our education programs, young people have no idea of the myriad of opportunities working in the industry.

Reach out to us, if you are interested in giving graduates an opportunity to work with you. Help mentor and build our future workforce. 

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Below is a short list of our graduates successes following completion of the intern program:

INTERN PROGRAM – DEC – FEBRUARY 2024 AT WARWICK FARM

Our summer programs are one of the best! Interns have the opportunity to get in amongst the Easter Classic Sales and gain a behind-the-scenes look at the sales process. 

All interns spent time completing their practical hands-on horse handling assessments with thanks to the ATC who assisted in providing us with their grey horses.

Interns got up close and personal with Bjorn Baker at his stables where he gave an entertaining insight into working in a training stable. The highlight is seeing some winning horses up close.  The following day another visit to Joe Pride racing stables and it is interesting for the interns as they can learn about the different styles, routines and strategies each trainer has for their horses. 

After the sales had finished, interns had an incredibly informative hour with Zina Mullins Inglis Bloodstock who has a very interesting background and was able to share her journey to where she is now. She imparted knowledge on how to understand pedigrees and follow the sales catalogue. Some students finished the program considering Bloodstock Agent as a potential career opportunity in the future.

Special thanks to our inspirational speakers:

Paul Carazzo – Carazzo Consulting

Craig (Boomer) Rounsefell – Boomer Bloodstock

Stephen Lamb – Horsepower

Bjorn Baker – Bjorn Baker Racing

Joe Pride – Pride Racing

Harrison Edwards – Australian Turf Club

Stephen McNamara – Ciaron Maher Racing

Ziva Mullins – Inglis Bloodstock

Owen Buik and Dave Jessat – ATC Clerk of the Course

Vicky Leonard – Kick Up For Racing

Nathan Skrivanic – Kick Collective 

Lowri Allen – Laurel Oak Bloodstock

Mark Jones – Australian Turf Club

KICK UP FOR RACING

It was great to have Vicky Leonard come along and speak to the interns about navigating negative misconceptions of welfare in the industry. Vicky helped interns to understand how to have positive conversations when confronted by a negative comment. She provided interns with statistics and real facts that they can take home and help change negative perceptions.

To learn more visit: https://kickup.com.au

SILVERDALE ACADEMY IN THE UPCOMING OUTBACK MAGAZINE

Journalist Mandy McKeesick has written a wonderful feature story on the Silverdale Academy. Keep an eye out for the June/July education feature of Outback Magazine as Silverdale Academy will be featured.

LEADERSHIP PROGRAM – LAUNCH DUE FOR MAY

Our leadership program which is being specifically designed for industry leaders is being constructed in collaboration with TAFE NSW and Silverdale Academy. We have been developing this program over the past 6 months to ensure we have a robust and fit-for-purpose Leadership Program which will be specifically contextualised for the horse industry. It will be based on all the generalised principles of management and leadership, but relevant specifically for supervisors, managers and leaders in the horse industry. The program will consist of workshops run over 3 days covering the fundamentals of leadership. The course will be accredited and can be further built out to a full certificate and diploma course, thus providing our industry with highly qualified leaders in the workplace.

To ensure we have a suitable program in place, we have received valuable input directly from the industry which has helped us put real industry workplace case studies in place so that participants can learn fundamental management and leadership skills that they can take back to the workplace and put in place with their teams.

The core topics covered will be Ethics in Leadership, Team Cohesion within the organisation, and Communication including how technology can be used to communicate with teams. We will be reviewing codes of conduct and policies within the industry so there is an understanding of certain procedures. In our industry, often managers have moved up into leadership positions, but don’t necessarily have the knowledge and fundamental skills for managing difficult situations with their teams. The Silverdale Equine Leadership program will help provide these fundamental skills which in turn will retain staff and help with their advancement building long-term career opportunities.

We are taking expressions of interest for businesses to put forward their staff to undertake this important program. Please contact us to be put on the waitlist. The course is awaiting Government funding, which will assist with business budgets. We thank all the industry businesses that provided us with letters of support to help gain funding.

Would you like to partner with the Silverdale Academy?

If you would like to get involved with supporting the Silverdale Academy in any way, please don’t hesitate to contact us.  Without the support of industry, we would not be making the impact we are in developing our next generation and filling the employment gap.  

Please don’t hesitate to connect with us.  Dtiller@silverdalefarm.com.au

SCHOOLS PROGRAMS

Silverdale and our RTO, TAFE NSW Mossvale have just kicked off our first meeting with RIEP, Illawarra region for early preparation of our schools programs. We had over 100 students come through our programs last year and were a great success. We are planning programs up to June 2024 with the aim of a special selection of 12 students from the 6-month day programs to take up a unique opportunity to undertake the special one-week internship. 

Our programs have been so successful that RIEP have asked to do some filming of the program to share. We will share details as soon as it is completed.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH

We couldn’t start off without sharing our first highlight of the year. 

The Silverdale Academy are extremely proud of young Harry who completed the Schools Internship Program last November. At the time, Harry was completing year 10 and was planning to continue to year 11. Over the holidays he had an incredible opportunity to commence work experience with Mitch Beer Racing based at Illawarra Turf Club – Kembla Grange.

We are thrilled to learn that Harry has made a pivotal decision in his future to leave school and accept a full-time position with Mitch Beer Racing with the desire and passion to become a Horse Trainer.

Now this is why we do what we do at the Silverdale Academy. Encouraging young people to discover the thoroughbred industry and the career paths available to them.

Harry’s parents shared this incredibly humbled message to us:

“From a parents’ point of view, we would like to thank Silverdale for supporting Harry on this journey.

We would also like to thank Mitch Beer for taking on and supporting Harry. It’s great when you pick up your son from work and he tells you how much he loves the work.

But finally and certainly not least, we would like to acknowledge Edmund Rice College for helping Harry get these wonderful opportunities. Especially careers advisor Mr Cajar, all his teachers and Principal Mr Gough”.

What a way to start 2024. It is going to be a very big year for the Silverdale Academy in 2024 and we can’t wait to be back on the ground with our next cohort of Interns at Silverdale Farm week of 6^th May.

If you are looking to help build the next generation of employment in the industry, we can help connect our graduates for part-time, permanent or traineeship opportunities.

Help build a strong and robust industry.

Coming Up!

Our Autumn Internship Program is now fully booked and closed.

You can register your interest for the following Program and be put on a short list through the link below.