ALA

South American-born property Manager Ignacio Silveira has improved his career prospects after combining his practical bush skills with TAFE study.

 Mr Silveira started learning about livestock as a child from his father and continued on that path across several large properties around Mt Isa, Longreach and Roma.

 He learnt there was more to property management than managing a drover’s camp and animal husbandry.

 Resources and business factors were vital components also in a successful manager’s skills repertoire and that’s where Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE Roma Campus delivered the balance.

 “I’d had some experience with a company-sponsored training program in the north-west which I found too theoretical,” Mr Silveira said.

 “About 12 months ago after a lot of encouragement from my wife Sandra, I enrolled at Roma TAFE after talking with rural teacher Maxine Thomas about the dual qualification Diploma of Agriculture/Rural Business Management,” he said.

 Mr Silveira, now 28, admits combining study with family and work was not easy but he got great support from TAFE staff who helped with the farm office components.

 “The beauty of this course is that you can complete each section at your own pace; leave it then come back without penalty,” Mr Silveira said.

 “I asked Maxine a lot of questions and she was always able to point me in the right direction.”

 “This is what I have been working for – being able to combine my practical bush skills with knowledge of necessary office and communication skills to cope with a range of challenges. It’s thanks to Roma TAFE,” he said.