Wine Australia's new website provides free resources for school use

Wine Australia has announced the launch of a new digital resource, called Careers in Viticulture and Wine, that seeks to foster connections between vineyards, wineries, and Australia’s educational curriculum. The website has a wide variety of available material suited to students and teachers of Foundation right through to year 12. 

According to Wine Australia's CEO Martin Cole, “we are aiming to inspire the next generation by demonstrating the breadth of, and the pathways to, careers across the wine sector value chain. We sought to develop a solution alongside education experts that would bridge the gap between awareness, curriculum aligned education and exploration of careers.” 

The online resource will provide age-appropriate information and will provide details into a diverse range of careers available and pathways to them. It also supplies teaching resources aligned with national school curriculums that link key school subjects with areas of winemaking production and operations. One of its key components is its virtual tour, which allows students to evaluate potential careers by matching values, strengths and aspirations. 

“Teachers expressed a need for activities connecting lessons to real-world scenarios and it has been rewarding to work with education experts to develop the extensive range of resources for teachers and schools, which are now hosted in the one site for easy access,” said Cole. 

“From sustainability to creativity, investigation to innovation: there are careers across the length and breadth of the sector that supports the interests, values and aspirations of our youth.”

One school featured on the new Careers in Viticulture and Wine website is Nuriootpa High School, showcasing its Vine and Wines program. 

“We couldn't provide our wine program without the support of the industry: from the donation of fruit, donation of yeast, dry ice, and testing,” said Milly Hoffmann, the school’s Wine Education Manager.

“Our 'Vines and Wines Program' at Nuriootpa High School offers invaluable hands-on experience in viticulture and winemaking. It serves as a vital stepping stone for students, opening doors to apprenticeships and careers in the wine industry. This program is essential for all students, especially those new to the field, providing an enriching educational opportunity.

“It can be challenging, but it is a rewarding program to run and I strongly believe it is the future of the wine industry in our area.”

For more information, visit the new Careers in Viticulture and Wine website here.