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Students from a number of Upper Hunter EPP schools, including Dungog, Kurri Kurri, Singleton, and Muswellbrook High Schools, recently took part in a drone course delivered by industry experts, Bralca. The course provided a mix of theory and hands-on learning, with students getting to fly drones across the picturesque landscape of Tocal College.

The EPP funded this industry-relevant training, allowing students to work towards two nationally recognised competencies: "Operate Precision Control Technology" and "Operate and Manage Remote Pilot Aircraft Systems."

For students like Muswellbrook High School's Zoe Pritchard, an agriculture school-based trainee, the course was a chance to acquire new, practical skills. "It has given me a new skillset that I can use in my future career and it's useful knowledge to have due to an increased use in agriculture," she says.

As Natalie Hilder explains, the training goes beyond just flying. The students learn how drones are used for "mapping, surveying land and how flying a drone can be more efficient for farmers in terms of decisions regarding crops and management of the land." This allows students to understand how drones collect and use data to help farmers make more informed decisions on everything from fertiliser to weed management.

Trainers praised the students for their strong aptitude and enthusiasm. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with students sharing that the course would not only strengthen their résumés but also support their future career goals.

The initiative highlights the value of making emerging technologies accessible to regional students and gives them a real-world advantage in an industry that is vital to their local communities.