30 mins
WA
Today 218 of the State’s future agriculture leaders will graduate from the NSW Government’s Tocal College destined for careers spanning livestock production, cropping, farm management, equine studies and agtech in NSW’s $25 billion agriculture sector.
Tocal College is the State’s leading agriculture education institute with 2,400 students enrolled in courses at 73 locations around NSW, making it one of the biggest and oldest agriculture education organisations in Australia.
The training of students at Tocal College is part of the Minns Labor Government’s comprehensive plan to build the State’s agriculture sector and ensure a well-trained and versatile future workforce.
The graduation took place at Tocal’s campus in Paterson in the State’s Hunter region.
Among the 2025 graduates to receive top honours are:
- Alyvia Lieb, from East Seaham in the Hunter, Dux of Certificate III in Agriculture (Tocal Agricultural Production Program),
- Grace Shields, from Lakesland in the Hunter, Dux of Certificate III in Horse Care (Tocal Stock Horse Breeding and Training Program),
- Sarah Hanks, from Louth Park in the Hunter, Dux of Certificate IV in Agriculture (Tocal Farm Supervisor and Agribusiness Program),
- Natalia Luci, from Mangrove Mountain in the Central Coast, Dux of Certificate IV in Agriculture (Traineeship Program).
Through its practical, industry-aligned training programs, Tocal supports both new entrants to agriculture and those already working in farming, agribusiness and natural resource management.
Its focus on developing skills, lifting safety standards and supporting productivity ensures NSW remains at the forefront of agricultural innovation.
Tocal’s educational outcomes continue to exceed national standards, with full-time program completion rates more than 40 percent higher than the national average. In addition:
- 92 percent of students in full-time training who began training at Tocal in 2025 successfully completed their qualification.
- 22 percent of students in full qualification programs identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and just under 50 percent of all 2025 enrolments are women.
As Tocal College enters its seventh decade, it continues to adapt to emerging industry needs, integrating digital agriculture technologies, enhancing regional training delivery, and strengthening partnerships with industry, producers and rural communities.
Visit Tocal College website for information – https://www.tocal.nsw.edu.au/home
This article was originally published on the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s website.