Josh Campbell spent years helping people as a paramedic; now he keeps an eye on cow health.
Josh was a paramedic for six years across metropolitan and rural Victoria, including two years in dairy country at Maffra.
An on-the-job assault and change in his personal circumstances led to his change of career, and Josh couldn’t be happier.
With about six years under his belt as a dairy farmer, Josh, 32, is keen to support the next generation of up-and-coming farmers, recently joining a GippsDairy Young Dairy Network tour to Tasmania.
Josh works with Kate and Jason Kirk at Dumbalk in Gippsland as one of four staff helping with a milking herd of more than 500.
It’s a far cry from his previous occupation, which had been his lifetime goal.
“Growing up, I didn’t like playing sports but at eight I joined St John Ambulance as a junior cadet and spent 14 years with them and went all the way up to a state officer and the state event deployment team and emergency management.”
This led to his career in paramedicine but the assault changed his plans.
“The assault opened my eyes,” he said.
“I wanted to go home safely at the end of every day.
“I was never home and always working and once I found farming, I absolutely loved it. I love being in the great outdoors every day.”
Josh moved back to Nyora in south Gippsland where he grew up and made the change into dairy farming with support from good mate, Daniel McDonald.
“Dan managed a farm and taught me the ropes and how to milk a cow and then I changed to a family in Poowong North and I’m now in my second year with Kate and Jason,” Josh said.
“I’m the first farmer in my family.”
Josh says the industry has so many benefits.
“Some days are stressful but other days you get so much out of it.
“I don’t wake up every day thinking that I’m going to work.
“I enjoy it that much, especially with Kate and Jason who are more like mentors than employers.
“I’ve been doing farming on and off for the past six or seven years but every day I learn something new.”
The farm has introduced All Flex collars.
“Being able to pick up cow health IDs before they show symptoms is phenomenal,” Josh said.
“With paramedicine you learn how to read people’s body language and I’ve been able to implement that with the cows. I can read their language and anticipate their next move.
“Kate says my cattle handling skills are awesome for someone who hasn’t been in the industry for very long.”
He recently returned from the GippsDairy Don Campbell memorial tour to Tasmania and says it solidified his commitment to the industry.
He has also been accepted into Dairy Australia’s Ambassador program.
“I’m really embracing dairy.
“I have a strong passion around education and keeping that legacy going and trying to help future generations and getting people into the industry. I’ve got a lot out of it and now start to think about what I could pass on.”
Josh encourages more young farmers to join the Young Dairy Network.
“The more that are aware of what the YDN has to offer, the better,” he said.
“The workshops and discussion groups are fantastic and I’ve made good friendships out of it so I can bounce ideas off people.
“For me, I have a professional mentor which is Kate and a personal farming mentor which is Dan who have both guided me and have always given me feedback on how to grow and given me the opportunities to grow and keep learning.
“The importance of having a mentor as a young farmer is so beneficial on so many levels, to help grow on a professional and personal level, and boost self-esteem and confidence within the industry.”