Name: Joseph Devries
Age: 28
Location: Geelong, VIC
Course(s) Studied: Diploma of Agribusiness Management
Hey, my name is Joey. I am originally from Wales in the UK but moved here to Australia in 2018. I have worked on a variety of different farms in Queensland, NSW and Victoria mainly picking lemons or watermelons. Now I work at a citrus pack house about 1 hour from Melbourne and manage a team of packers and graders. We grade, sort and pack citrus fruit mainly sourced from farms in the Sunraysia, Riverland and Riverina regions. We supply some of the major supermarkets, sell citrus at the wholesale markets and export overseas. I studied the Diploma of Agribusiness Management with RuralBiz in 2021/2022 which enabled me to expand my skills and knowledge of how an agricultural business operates.
After completing my studies I have since started working part time on a 450 ha farm on the Surf Coast in Victoria which grows hay and lucerne, and has a Farmgate shop selling local products as well as a nursery.
My studies with Rural Biz have enabled me to be sponsored by my employer as a skilled worker for permanent residency here in Australia.