17 December 1984 Lincoln College offers a Diploma of Rural Secretarial Practice

Tertiary qualifications do not automatically secure a job on today’s labour market, but the Diploma of Rural Secretarial Practice offered by Lincoln College gives those who successfully complete the one-year course a better-than-average chance of getting into their chosen profession.

Senior lecturer in agricultural accounting Murray Clark, course adviser for the rural secretarial practice diploma, feels the chances could be even better than that.

"There is an unfilled demand for rural secretaries as they are becoming accepted more by farmers and others in primary industry," he said.

Since 1980 when the course started more than thirty women have gained the Diploma of Rural Secretarial Practice.

And places for next year's course are already filling, and there is the possibility of a class of 15-20.

Most of those who have completed the course are from farms, and want to get back on the land after working in the city.

They enjoy secretarial work, but prefer working in rural surroundings.

And working as a rural secretary allows them to do just that.

Some work for accountants, stock and station companies or farm consultants ; others strike out and establish independent businesses.

But whether working for a firm or freelancing, rural secretaries build up a clientele of farmers, keeping the business side of farming in order.

Not all rural secretaries work full time ; some prefer a part-time practice, working from their husbands' farm or orchard.

Those working part time often do all the secretarial work on their home farm or orchard, before going out to work on other farms.

Rural secretaries need to have some working maturity, so Lincoln College takes only those with experience in commercial life .

Murray says those wanting to take the course must have worked for at least two years.

"They may have been typists, stenographers or secretaries, but must have commercial experience," he said .

Getting the diploma adds a further specialisation and widens the opportunities for jobs.

Some rural secretaries go back to work on the family farm and look after the day-to-day farm business.

Training at Lincoln College also fits those with the diploma for work in a farm accountant or farm consultant office.

Rural secretarial students get specialist training in analysing and recording financial transactions for a variety of agricultural businesses.

On farms rural secretaries find work that is diverse and interesting, and they need a feel for agriculture and horticulture.

The one-year course starts in late February and continues until early November.

Two of these subjects must be English and mathematics, and a satisfactory standard of typing is also required.

Most of those who have taken the course so far have been in their mid-20s to early 30s, but some have been in their early 20s and others in their 40s.

"Once a woman has secured the Diploma of Rural Secretarial Practice she has professional skill with a flexibility that would be difficult to get in most other jobs," Murray said.

Further information from Mr Murray Clark, Department of Farm Management, Lincoln College, Canterbury 8150, New Zealand.