Queensland schools invited to join 2027 Agribusiness Gateway program
Queensland schools are being encouraged to take their students’ connection with agriculture to the next level, with applications now open for the 2027 Agribusiness Gateway to Industry Schools Program.
Fifteen Queensland schools will be selected to participate in Stream 1 of the program in 2027, working closely with the project team over 12 months to strengthen connections with industry and build their capacity to embed agriculture across the curriculum.
CQUniversity Australia delivers the Agribusiness Gateway to Industry Schools project in partnership with AgForce School to Industry Partnership Program (SIPP), AgriFutures Australia and the Queensland Agricultural Teachers Association (QATA), with the goal of introducing young Queenslanders to the diverse career opportunities available across the state’s agriculture industry.
Senior Lecturer in Agriculture Dr Jaime Manning said the program provided schools with an opportunity to bring agriculture and its diverse career pathways to life for students.
“Agriculture is an incredibly diverse industry, with career opportunities spanning everything from production and agribusiness to technology, science, sustainability and many other areas,” Dr Manning said.
“Through the Gateway project, we want to help schools make meaningful connections with industry and give students greater opportunities to see where their interests and skills could take them.
“Importantly, schools don’t need to have a long-established agriculture program to apply. We want to work with schools at different stages and help them build an approach that works for their students, teachers and communities.”
Applications are open to Queensland schools with a range of existing agricultural education offerings, including those with emerging or established agriculture programs and schools that do not currently offer agriculture but want to introduce it or incorporate agricultural content into other subject areas.
Schools can nominate areas of interest across a broad range of agricultural industries, including AgTech, beef, cotton, dairy, grains, horticulture, sugarcane, aquaculture and fisheries, forestry and timber, irrigation and agribusiness.
Proposed Gateway School programs must involve at least two departments or subject areas, helping participating schools explore opportunities to incorporate agriculture across different areas of learning.
“Clifton High School, a 2026 Stream 1 school, set out to introduce a new agricultural commodity at their school, sheep and wool production. An Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) shearer visited the school and taught students and teachers how to shear and undertake animal husbandry tasks. This has contributed to their ultimate goal is to have sheep at the school.”
“Agriculture reaches well beyond the farm gate, and it is great seeing schools embrace new sectors and help them create new partnerships and skills with our industry partners,” Dr Manning said.
“We encourage Queensland schools that want to grow their agricultural education, build stronger connections with industry and open students’ eyes to future career opportunities to submit an application.”
Applications for Stream 1 close Monday 2 November 2026.
Shortlisted schools will be interviewed on Tuesday 10, Friday 13 or Monday 16 November 2026, with successful Stream 1 Gateway Schools to be announced on Friday 20 November 2026.
Queensland teachers can also participate in Stream 2 from early 2027, which includes webinars, professional development and curriculum-aligned classroom lessons focused on the science and technology of agriculture.
Schools can find out more and apply via the Agribusiness Gateway website.
The Agribusiness Gateway to Industry Schools Program is delivered by CQUniversity’s Institute for Future Farming Systems, Agricultural Education and Extension cluster, and is funded by the Queensland Government.
