Scott Miller- Project Officer in Animal Health Research

Name Scott Miller

Age 21

Location Armidale, NSW

What part(s) of the industry do you work in? Animal Health Research

Job title Project Officer

What does your company/ business do? Trials new chemical products on livestock. Veterinary Health Research is a company which performs contract research for many different animal health care companies. This requires us to perform a range of tasks such as chemical safety trials and determining the efficacy and with holding periods of many new products. This such research is important to the development of animal health care products within the agricultural industry. All of our trials are conducted in accordance with the animal ethics committee.

Describe your job on the average day There is no such thing as a usual day at Veterinary Health Research. You will complete a range of activities such as writing protocols for trials, and consulting with animal ethics committees and representatives from various animal health companies. Then there is the practical side of the job where you take blood or faeces samples from animal and process these samples, collect animal samples from the abattoir for trials, and then there is the care and observation of animals. Also then you are required to write the final report for the study.

How did you get involved with agriculture? I was raised on my family sheep and cattle property in Glen Innes where I very quickly gained a passion for agriculture and decided that is the industry I would like to dedicate my life too.

Education Completed a Bachelor of Agriculture at the University of New England, and currently studying a Graduate Diploma in Education

If you studied/ trained in agriculture, why did you choose that degree/ certificate? Because it is what I have loved doing since I was born

What are/were you plans after school/TAFE/university? Work in the animal health industry

What are your interests? Apart from agriculture, I have a strong interest in sports (particularly tennis, rugby league/union and volleyball. I also enjoy listening to music (especially triple J) and relaxing in front of the tv (mainly watching the sport channel).

What is your favourite thing about the industry? I love the fact that there are so many facets to the industry and it can be extremely versatile. With many enterprises ranging from intensive horticulture to broad acre cropping and from pigs and chickens to beef and sheep. There are just so many amazing opportunities and every day is full of new experiences.

Best experience in agriculture? Just going for a casual drive around the country and take in the diverse landscapes

Worst experience in agriculture? Working in below 0⁰C temperatures during winter

What do you think will be the biggest challenges of the agricultural industry in the future? Like most things, agriculture is under constant and increasing pressure as a result of rules and regulations.

Why do you think less people are becoming involved in agriculture? I feel that not many people are becoming involved in agriculture because they are entering other industries which are financially more stable than what the agricultural industry is.

What advice do you have for people thinking about getting into agriculture? It is a great opportunity to get into a career for which you can actually wake up every morning and want to go to work. There is always an endless supply of new and interesting experiences that will stay with you for life.

How important do you think an agricultural background is to become involved in the industry? Not at all!

What do you think is the most common misconception about agriculture? That farmers are always working from the crack of dawn till well after dusk.