The recent AgQuip Field Days in Gunnedah provided an opportunity to accrue important work placement hours for 16 hospitality students from Tamworth’s Oxley High School.

Over three days, the Oxley High students prepared and served more than 700 lunch packs, which included sandwiches, fruit salad and cookies.

Students also had the opportunity to show off their barista skills, serving more than 300 cups of coffee and hot chocolate from the school’s brand-new coffee machine.

Ben Ballard, Executive Director of the NSW Department of Education’s Regional, Rural and Remote Education Policy unit, said the students had accrued more than 550 work placement hours during the event.

“Giving students the opportunity to gain real world experience in vocational areas not only builds their skills and confidence, but it also encourages them to explore future career pathways,” he said.

“Our presence at AgQuip provided a great opportunity to partner with schools and teams across the Department to deliver an innovative program of activities for our regional, rural and remote students.”

The Department was one of the 3000 exhibitors at the annual AgQuip event and joined with organisers to provide free entry for registered school groups.

As part of the Department’s program of activities, free lunch packs were provided to registered students.

The Rural, Regional and Remote Educational Policy team ran its popular Field Day Passport Program, which encouraged students to engage fully with the opportunities available on-site.