As part of their studies, every Agribusiness student at Marcus Oldham completes at least four weeks of industry placement each year. This hands-on experience is a core component of the course, allowing students to apply their learning in real-world settings and gain invaluable insights from experienced industry professionals.
Several students have completed placements this year with Consolidated Pastoral Company (CPC) at the JJAA Lampung feedlot in Indonesia. Earlier in the year, final-year students Harrison Alick and Cooper Pearson undertook their placement at Lampung, followed more recently by classmates Tayah Davey and Suzie Koch.
We’re incredibly grateful to CPC and the JJAA team for welcoming our students and providing a unique opportunity to gain international experience in a key Australian export market.
A special thank you to William Bullo, General Manager of JJAA Indonesia, and CPC Chief Executive, Troy Setter, for their generous support in facilitating these placements.
Below, Tayah shares her reflections on her and Suzie’s time in Indonesia:
We began our placement in Lampung at the JJAA feedlot, where we completed a full cycle through the business. This included an induction into logistics and management, along with hands on experience in the yards and feeding operations.
From office tasks to commodity negotiations and practical work on the ground, we gained a well-rounded understanding of the Indonesian feedlot supply chain, particularly regarding import logistics, commodity flows, seasonal challenges, and day-to-day operations.
Observing and understanding the threat of biosecurity and how it is managed at JJAA, alongside discussions with senior staff highlighted just how critical it is for Australia to continue strengthening its own biosecurity systems. The conversations brought home the very real threat that foreign animal disease poses, not just to animal health, but to trade and food security.
We concluded our placement with 3 days in Jakarta, where we immersed ourselves in the local culture and met with representatives from the Australian Embassy. These discussions provided insights into the broader Indo-Australian trade relationship, including both the opportunities and vulnerabilities in our export and import markets.
Overall, our experience in Lampung and Jakarta provided us a pivotal opportunity to engage with one of Australia’s prioritised export markets. It deepened our understanding of international trade and fuelled our passion to contribute meaningfully to the red meat supply chain and global agriculture.
