Cultivating her career: Caitlin Radford’s journey in Agriculture

Past 

We met Caitlin, a fifth-generation Tasmanian farmer, on National Agriculture Day 2020 when she won Apprentice of the Year at the Australian Training Awards.  

With farming in her blood, Caitlin always thought she’d find herself working on the family farm at a later stage of life. After completing high school and spending a gap year exploring mainland Australia and traveling abroad, Caitlin returned home to work at her parents' farm.  

While working on the farm, Caitlin decided to pursue a part-time apprenticeship. She built on previous knowledge from her upbringing, and successfully completed a Certificate III in Agriculture. Due to the unpredictable and demanding nature of farming, studying her VET courses part-time was essential as it provided her with the flexibility to acquire the practical skills necessary to advance her career.  

Present 

Since being named 2020 Apprentice of the Year, Caitlin has continually developed her skills, knowledge, and career. She completed a Diploma of Agribusiness Management and a Diploma of Agriculture, gaining insights into the business and operational aspects of farming. 

As the business expanded and Caitlin started managing a team, she developed her skills in parallel by earning a Certificate IV in Leadership and Management.  

“VET fits into your life in whatever way suits you best. I love how flexible it is and it gives me skills I can implement into my business straight away,” Caitlin said. 

In 2022, Caitlin and her husband purchased their first farm and acquired another one this past year. Including her parents' farm, they now manage over 600 acres and are in the process of consolidating the land to be fully functional. 

Future 

The future is looking bright for Caitlin, who is dreaming of starting her own family and experiencing family life on the farm. She’s also continuously seeking opportunities to improve her business, her team and herself. Striving to make her business and the crops she produces something to be proud of.  

“We plan to stay in Moriarty, Tasmania long-term, enjoying the highs and lows of the different seasons and will continue to improve our business and team. I’m sure there will also be more study in years to come, there is always something new to learn,” Caitlin said. 

Australian VET Alumni 

Since becoming a member of the Australian VET Alumni, through the Australian Training Awards Caitlin has seized every opportunity provided to her. She has promoted her passion for the agriculture industry, by featuring in TV stories, radio, newspapers, guest speaking, podcasts and more. Caitlin also uses these opportunities to help and inspire others. 

“I’ve grown so much personally through these opportunities and been so lucky to be considered a role model to a lot of young people both in and out of the agriculture industry,” 

"I owe a lot to the [2020 Apprentice of the Year Award] award for kick starting my career. I wouldn’t have thought I’d be where I am today at the age of 26.” Caitlin said. 

If you’re considering nominating for the Australian Training Awards, Caitlin says, “go for it”. 

"It’s changed my life for the better. It isn't about winning an award; it’s about the people you meet and the opportunities that come with such prestigious awards."