SYKES – COUNTRY WORK EXPERIENCE UNDERMINED BY REGULATIONS

Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, supports The Nationals leader, Peter Ryan, in calling for the Government to do something about the ridiculous guidelines of the Department of Education that prevents work experience students from having direct contact with animals in veterinary and farming placements.

Peter Ryan raised the issue in Parliament yesterday after receiving complaints from school teachers about the Department’s excessive and restrictive guidelines.

Dr Sykes said, “We are already facing an enormous challenge in efforts to encourage young people to stay in rural areas and become the future of our farming and primary industries… the last thing regional Victoria needs is for those keen to get involved to be prohibited from participating.

“The point of work experience is exactly that… to experience the work! These guidelines prevent that.

Dr Sykes continued, “I am speaking as a farmer and a vet myself, as well as a member of Parliament when I say there is no way students can get a real feel for either of these areas if they cannot have contact with the animals.

“I have had veterinary students and secondary college students undertaking work experience with me for many years.

“Students learn best by doing things themselves and it is impossible to drench sheep, vaccinate cattle or assist a cow calve without touching an animal.

“If students know they are not going to be able to fully participate they may choose to do work experience in a different field and that is bad for country Victoria.

“I fully support reasonable efforts to ensure the safety of our students but it’s hard to achieve anything in life if you’re strangled by red tape and wrapped up in cotton wool.

Dr Sykes concluded, “It is time the Bracks’ Government stopped attempting to turn Victoria into a ‘Nanny State’. Young people need to learn to take responsibility for their own actions and to apply common sense both at work and at play.

“For their part, employers need to provide reasonable training and a safe workplace whilst recognising working with animals does involve some risks.

“I call on the Bracks’ Government to immediately revise the current guidelines and allow young people to actively participate in a range of activities during work experience placements.

Media contact: Bill Sykes (03) 5762 2100 or 0427 624 989