Primary industry advisers Careers Pathway Scheme

About the Careers Pathway Scheme

The purpose of the scheme is to grow the number and diversity of advisers in the primary industry advisory sector.

Independent advisory companies and whenua Māori entities may be eligible to receive financial support when hiring new advisers or upskilling existing staff.

New and early career advisers – $22,500 per year (for up to 3 years) to help cover salary and training costs.
Experienced advisers – one-off contributions towards training costs to grow skills required for integrated farm planning.

Applications opened in April 2022 and will remain open until 2025.

Why the scheme is needed

The agriculture and horticulture advisory sectors have an ageing workforce and a shortage of advisers. The scheme will support the development of up to 100 skilled farm advisers. This will ensure farmers, growers, and whenua Māori owners have access to high-quality farm planning support and advice.

There will be an emphasis on attracting more advisers who are:

women
graduates
Māori
career changers.

2023 Careers Pathway Scheme – Case study [PDF, 3.7 MB]

Three types of funding available for primary industry advisers

Financial support is available for companies or people who employ primary industry advisers.

Employers will be eligible for different levels of support based on the experience of their advisers.

Up to 3 years' salary and training contribution

This category is for advisers who have less than 1 year of full-time (or equivalent part-time) work experience as an adviser.

Up to 2 years’ salary and training contribution

This category is for advisers with between 1 and 3 years of full-time (or equivalent part-time) work experience as an adviser.

One-off contribution towards training costs

This category is for advisers:

with more than 3 years of full-time (or equivalent part-time) work experience as an adviser
who want to upskill to support farmers with integrated farm planning.