Cows Creates Careers

Inspiring the next generation of dairy professionals.

Cows Create Careers is a hands-on, school-based program that introduces students to the world of dairy and the career opportunities it offers. From its beginnings in Gippsland, the program now reaches over 15,000 students across 240 schools in 23 dairy regions nationwide.

Launched in 2004 by the Lions Club of Strzelecki and supported with seed funding from Gardiner Foundation in 2005 and 2007, Cows Create Careers has grown into a leading agricultural education initiative. It is coordinated by Jaydee Events and supported by Dairy Australia and Gardiner.

Targeting students in Years 5–11, the program combines practical learning, such as caring for calves, with industry mentoring and classroom resources. It empowers teachers and engages students in topics like animal care, food production and career pathways across agriculture, agribusiness, and food technology.

Expanding Impact: Fulham Pilot Program

Over its two-decade journey, Cows Create Careers has continued to innovate.

In 2024, Cows Create Careers was trialled for the first time in a correctional setting at Fulham Correctional Centre. Through a new partnership between GEO, Gardiner Foundation, GippsDairy and Jaydee Events, the program was adapted to support men nearing release with dairy industry training. Participants at Fulham’s Nalu minimum-security unit learn how to care for young calves, explore biosecurity and farm safety, and visit working dairy farms to gain real-world insight. The program is designed to build confidence, skills and employment prospects post-release. Following the success of the pilot, several participants have already secured work on local dairy farms, demonstrating how Cows Create Careers can evolve to meet broader community needs and create positive pathways beyond the classroom. Learn more about the program.