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About the NMHI Program

Northern Mallee Horticulture Immersion Program

Northern Mallee LLEN proudly leads the Northern Mallee Horticulture Immersion (NMHI) Program in partnership with Chaffey Secondary College, creating meaningful pathways for young people to explore careers in horticulture and agribusiness. The program provides students with a unique opportunity to connect classroom learning with real-world industry experiences while developing practical skills, industry knowledge, and career aspirations.

The NMHI Program is an intensive 17-week horticulture immersion experience designed for Year 9 students. Participants attend the Chaffey Secondary College Farm each Thursday throughout the semester, engaging in a combination of classroom learning, hands-on farm activities, industry visits, and direct interaction with horticultural professionals.

Students gain valuable exposure to a broad range of horticulture sectors, including:

  • Citrus production and orchard management
  • Plant propagation and nursery production
  • Soil science and plant nutrition
  • Irrigation and water management
  • Food manufacturing and packaging
  • Transport and logistics
  • Agricultural machinery and technology
  • Sustainability and environmental management
  • Parks, gardens, and landscaping
  • Careers across the horticulture and agribusiness industries

The program is delivered within a structured and supportive framework that includes comprehensive workplace health and safety inductions, supervision by registered teachers, and strong partnerships with local industry leaders. These collaborations provide students with authentic workplace experiences and insights into one of the region’s most important industries.Throughout the program, students participate in carefully planned excursions and hands-on learning activities that build their understanding of horticultural practices, innovation, sustainability, and the diverse career opportunities available across the sector.

The program concludes with a Graduation Ceremony, where participants showcase their learning journey through presentations and reflections, celebrating the skills, knowledge, and confidence they have developed over the 18 weeks.

Program Impact 2023 – 2026

Northern Mallee LLEN first led the 2023 Northern Mallee Horticulture Immersion (NMHI) Project in partnership with Chaffey Secondary College. The project was funded for 18 months by the Secondary School Agriculture Fund which formed part of the Victorian Government’s four-year $50 million commitment to the Agricultural College Modernisation Program. Five partnering schools were Chaffey SC, Red Cliffs SC, Merbein P10 College, Mildura Specialist School, and Irymple SC.

121

Total Students Impacted

62

Male Students

51.24%

59

Female Students

48.76%

24

CALD Students

19.83%

23

ATSI Students

19%

21

Students with Additional Needs

17.35%

Program impact figures, 2023–2026. Some student categories overlap.

Program Industry Partners

Sponsor's 2026

What Our Students Say

“I really enjoyed going to the Piangil Farm at Select Harvest and Southern Cross Farms in Nangiloc and learning about the Citrus, and I enjoyed going to the SuniTAFE Farm and learning about everything that’s there.”
Rebecca Shugg Student, Mildura Specialist School
“NMHI Project opened my eyes to the vast possibilities in horticulture. I never knew it could be this exciting. I was interested in the Almond industry learning about different almonds and the food processing how you can make different like spreads of almonds that’s what really interested me because I didn’t know that.”
Destiny FrenchStudent, Chaffey Secondary College
“I really love the industry visits I didn’t think around here specifically there would be as much technology involved but there’s quite a bit. Since doing this program looking into year 10, I am planning on doing a Cert II Horiculture at TAFE and doing agricultural science throughout year 10. I would like to become a farm manager one day. It teaches you a lot about Horticulture and helps you stay interested in it. Just jump in and see what you can do.”
Roman CurphyStudent, Irymple Secondary College
"When we go to the nursery lab and see all the plants being grafted and how they are grown and are grafted at the same time, it really changed my perspective of going into this type of Career path."
Sienna EvansStudent, Chaffey secondary College

Sponsor Testimony

“are-able is proud to support initiatives like the NHMI Program that promote inclusion and remove barriers to participation. By ensuring students have the equipment they need to participate safely, we are helping create equitable opportunities and supporting the development of a capable and confident future workforce.”
Chloe Baron
Area Manager

2023 NMHI Project Documentary

Discover the essence of the 2023 NMHI Project in the following Documentary. Journey through modern technologies, industry visits, and hands-on experiences at Chaffey Secondary College Farm. Hear from students, experts, and staff sharing impactful experiences, exploring the entire produce journey from labs to global markets