Godolphin launches holiday internship programme to attract new workers
Paid initiative to target high school and tertiary students interested in entering industry
The Australian arm of Godolphin, the world’s biggest employer in the thoroughbred racing and breeding industries, has launched an internship programme in an initiative it hopes can play a small role in overcoming the at times crippling staff shortages plaguing one of Australia’s most important economic sectors.
Starting in January, the paid Godolphin School Holiday Internship Program, to run across seven Godolphin sites and various facets of the operation, is aimed at creating a pathway for students keen to gain an understanding of and pursue a career in the thoroughbred industry.
“Staff shortages are putting a strain on all industries, including ours, and when pressure is put on different areas what we see is that passion for the thoroughbred and our industry really shine through,” Godolphin Australia managing director Vin Cox said yesterday.
“The program isn’t here to fill positions, it’s here as another pathway to introduce those who may not be afforded the opportunity to have horses in their backyards to experience being hands-on and interacting with a horse.
“It’s here as a pathway for someone who may not have access to people who are office-based and can share their wisdom and experiences, and it’s here to allow young people to see if this industry is for them.
“That experience is invaluable for a young person trying to piece together their future.”
The Godolphin School Holiday Internship Program, to be conducted in four blocks annually, will enable students to gain an understanding of the industry from the perspective of a role that is of most interest and at a site that is most convenient for them.
Godolphin’s Woodlands farm at Denman in the Hunter Valley and Northwood Park near Seymour in Victoria as well as Osborne Park at Agnes Banks near Hawkesbury and the Sydney metropolitan training centre Crown Lodge at Warwick Farm and Carbine Lodge at Flemington in Melbourne will all host students.
Godolphin Australia’s head office in Edgecliff, Sydney, will also provide interns with an insight into racing administration, media and marketing, finance and public affairs in the world’s biggest racing and breeding operation.
Paid internships as stud and stablehands, gardeners, farm hands and in track maintenance are also being offered through the program, which is open to high school, TAFE and university students.
Godolphin Australia’s community and industry program officer Tayla Gilmore is overseeing the internships.
“We’ll have the first cohort through for this summer and applicants can choose from one of our seven sites across NSW and Victoria, from working hands-on with the thoroughbred on farm or in our training facilities, to office-based opportunities in accounts, IT, sales and marketing or with our farming crew: gardening, maintenance and farming, there are areas for all students to explore,” Cox said.
“Once we receive applications, Tayla Gilmore and her team go through to check eligibility criteria such as appropriate age, assess their level of experience and what their objectives are to then look to an appropriate area for placement.”
The Godolphin Australia managing director added: “Through the development of this program and prior research, it became evident that whilst some may be aware of the industry in general many are unaware of the broad range of career opportunities that the thoroughbred industry offers.
“Work experience in our industry is not always offered or promoted through schools as a work experience option.”
Ciaron Maher Racing also ran school holiday work experience last summer while Steve Grant’s Silverdale Farm has also, 13 months ago, partnered with TAFE NSW to run an in-house intern program at the NSW Southern Highlands stud where secondary school students are given the opportunity to participate in an equine “hands-on taster” course at the state-of-the-art broodmare and spelling facility.
Industry-led training initiatives such as the Thoroughbred Industry Careers and the Thoroughbred Breeders Australia-run Fast Track programmes, in which students learn over a 12-month period, have also been operating for a number of years in a bid to attract people to and give them the skills to work in the racing and breeding industries.
“It’s easy to look outward when seeking support or an answer and as an industry we are responsible for our skilled workforce and doing a wonderful job seeing programs like TIC, the Fast Track Program, Silverdale Farm’s intern program and now the Godolphin Internship Program,” Cox said.
“It’s important we’re future-proofing our industry.”
Cox said Godolphin, which has 300 employees in Australia, provided unique experiences that can be replicated by few other thoroughbred operations globally.
“I’d encourage anyone and everyone to come and discover this wonderful industry that has afforded many of us fantastic opportunities,” he said.
“And speaking specifically about Godolphin, when you walk through the racing barns and you’re working alongside the likes of Anamoe, In Secret, Golden Mile, Paulele, Cascadian and many others, it’s a pinch-me moment.
“Likewise, the stallion barns with Lonhro, Exceed And Excel, Microphone, Too Darn Hot, Brazen Beau or the broodmare paddocks of Guelph, Earthquake, Retsina and all their progeny – you’ll see these names in pedigrees for generations to come; it’s incredible reflecting on the bloodstock.
“You hear many stories from those doing great things in this industry in that they accidently discovered it and who are now incredibly passionate about it.”
To register your interest, send your CV and a covering letter to au-workplacements@godolphin.com
Related links
https://www.godolphin.com/sites/default/files/uploads/School-Holiday-Program-Final-29-11-2022.pdf