Meat Industry Project Proposed & Industry Changes Identified in the Annual Update to Skills Forecast

Our Role Establishing Skills Insight JSC

Skills Impact held a Skills Service Organisation (SSO) role between 2016 and 2022. In 2023 we established one of ten Job and Skills Councils (JSCs), after a submission to move into the role was backed by over 200 letters of support from a broad range of industry stakeholders. This new JSC, Skills Insight, has a broader scope to deliver outcomes that support a responsive VET system and a skilled and resilient national workforce. The industry coverage of Skills Insight is similar to our past coverage as a Skills Service Organisation.

We are seeking your feedback on a key training package project that has been proposed for 2021 – 2024 and specific changes to the industry environment that have been identified in this year’s Annual Update to the IRC Skills Forecast and Proposed Schedule of Work (Skills Forecast).

The reputation of Australian meat as high quality has been built by a skilled and trained meat processing workforce.

This year’s Annual Update includes information about employers’ use of training packages and qualifications, barriers to hiring apprentices and trainees, and reasons behind non-completion rates. It highlights the impact of COVID-19, including on local and global markets and on training.

The proposed project is summarised below. Feedback is being collected up until 7 May 2020.

The draft Annual Update will be submitted from the Meat Industry Reference Committee to the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) for their consideration, once feedback from industry has been received and considered.

View the Annual Update and provide feedback

Proposed Schedule of Work

2021-22

Meat Processing Skills Review Project (Stage 1)

This project proposes a full review of the AMP Australian Meat Processing Training Package, to take place over three stages (approximately three years). The training package has undergone a series of small changes over the last five years, designed to meet specific industry needs. It is designed for workplace-based delivery and includes elements that are no longer considered best practice in the VET system. The aim of this project is to review all 24 qualifications, 446 units of competency and 75 skill sets so they not only meet Training Package Standards, but so they are more user friendly for employers, learners and registered training providers (RTOs). This work will reduce duplication across the training package, improve the ability for employers and learners to choose the appropriate program of learning, and will simplify RTO delivery. The first stage of this project is proposed to take place in 2021-22 and will include the review of all general meat processing qualifications and core units to create qualifications that can have specialist skills or job role streams added as they are developed. This will also allow for groupings of job roles at relevant AQF levels within single qualifications.

2022-23

Meat Processing Skills Review Project (Stage 2)

A continuation of the project described above. This stage will focus on reviewing components based on identified industry sectors.

2023-24

Meat Processing Skills Review Project (Stage 3)

A continuation of the project described above. This stage will focus on reviewing the qualifications and skills standards relating to retail operations and specialist areas.