Top of the crop
Madison Corsini, Western Australian College of Agriculture – Cunderdin
WA School Services Staff Member of the Year
Returning to the place where her passion was ignited and her future was shaped, Madison Corsini started working at the Western Australian College of Agriculture – Cunderdin to encourage and support students to achieve great heights in agriculture.
Growing up in a farming family on a fifth generation farm, Madison has been around farming and agriculture her whole life.
However, from a young age, her dream was to become a primary school teacher.
With her passion for agriculture and education, Madison enrolled as a student in the Western Australia College of Agriculture – Cunderdin where she discovered her interest in pigs.
“I had no knowledge of the business of pigs before I entered the college,” she says.
“My passion for reproductive cycles, nutritional values and genetics was all used in piggery.”
She quickly returned to the college after graduating and has worked there for eight years helping students achieve their potential and share her love for agriculture with them.
“I feel this college shaped my future by teaching me to take up every opportunity given, even if you haven’t tried it before,” she says.
“I have an amazing opportunity to be a part of a fantastic team at the Western Australian College of Agriculture – Cunderdin which provide students with skills and qualifications in agriculture and trades.”
Madison swiftly climbed the ladder at the College, starting as a technical officer for the piggery enterprise before being promoted to assistant farm manager where her role involved leading the operations of a 10,000-acre commercial farming enterprise.
She loves how every day is different and there is always something new and challenging to take on.
Madison brings her organisation, knowledge and expertise to the college, managing eight staff and 140 students.
She also transformed the piggery into the successful enterprise and training program it is today.
Under Madison’s guidance, the piggery has seen a 16 per cent increase in the number of piglets born and the days to market reduced by 11 per cent.
Madison is also dedicated to paving the way for women in agriculture, inspiring both female and male students.
She has also taken charge and established the whole-school Farm Skills Day at the college. The day encourages students to work together and compete in various competitions such as sheep shearing, agility tractor driving and cattle judging.
Understanding the importance of developing the future leaders of the agricultural industry, Madison enjoys being able to create a positive learning environment through her calm, organised and approachable leadership style.
“What keeps me motivated about my role is seeing the Year 12 students graduate from the Western Australian College of Agriculture – Cunderdin with the skills and qualifications to succeed in the working industry,” she says.
In the future, Madison still has plans to achieve her childhood dream of being a school teacher.
“I hope to still achieve finishing a university degree in teaching, but instead of primary school teaching, I hope to do secondary teaching with an agriculture or business degree,” she says.
By managing day-to-day financial, administrative, technical and hands-on operations, they contribute to their schools providing the best learning environments for students.
This award is proudly sponsored by K2AV.
Winner
- Madison Corsini, Western Australian College of Agriculture - Cunderdin
Finalists
- Jessica Dreaver, North East Metropolitan Language Development Centre
- Terri Te Kani, Merredin College
- Varina Earle, Canning Vale College