“Racehorse breeding skills” was identified as a priority skill area in the 2018-2021 Racing IRC Skills Forecast and Proposed Schedule of Work (see page 57-59). Australian horse racing is reliant on the breeding of high-quality horses. Breeding and racing should be viewed in tandem as one cannot exist without the other. In 2015–2016, the revenue from Thoroughbred breeding alone was $987.4 million with $145.4 million coming from export sales. Thoroughbred breeders currently send workers to the UK and Ireland to undertake Diploma-level qualifications. The skill needs of racehorse breeding should be addressed to protect current revenue and increase revenue through both local and export sales.

Qualifications, skill sets and units of competency from the RGR Racing and Breeding Training Package will be reviewed to incorporate the skills and knowledge requirements of job roles in racehorse breeding, from conception of progeny, development of foals and preparation of yearlings.

Skills Impact and the Racing and Breeding Industry Reference Committee (IRC) will take this project through a process that adheres to the 2012 Standards for Training Package Development.

Download the IRC Skills Forecast (see page 57-59)

Project Scope

This project will look at the knowledge and skills that are essential to breed racehorses in line with specific Australian breeding requirements, taking in to consideration foaling down, nutrition, development of the foal, knowledge of pedigrees, business management and relevant rules and regulations. Qualifications and units of competency will be reviewed and updated to include these skills. Knowledge of pedigrees, business management and the rules and regulations particular to the breeding of Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds will also be incorporated.

Scroll down to view the list of qualifications and of units proposed for revision. They will be incorporated in the RGR Racing and Breeding Training Package.

Australian horse racing is reliant on the breeding of high quality horses. Thoroughbred breeders currently send workers to the UK and Ireland to undertake Diploma-level qualifications. The skill needs of horse racing and breeding should be addressed to protect current revenue and increase revenue through both local and export sales.

Relevant Occupations

• Stablehand
• Studhand
• Breeder/stud manager
• Equine veterinarian
• Veterinary nurse
• Bloodstock manager
• Stallion manager
• Foaling supervisor
• Yearling supervisor
• Broodmare supervisor

Key Deliverables

• Review qualifications and units to align them with international best practice.
• Review current accredited courses with a view to include them in the national training packages.
• Review all current horse breeding units of competency within the ACM Animal Care and Management Training Package to ensure the skills are aligned to the needs of the industry.
• Transfer relevant horse breeding units from the ACM Training Package to the RGR Racing and Breeding Training Package.

Timeline

August 2018
Initial scoping

September 2018
Development of draft qualifications and units

October/November 2018
Drafts available for broad consultation

February/March 2019
Validation of final drafts

April 2019
Finalisation of Training Package components

April/May 2019
Independent Quality Assurance, and Edit and Equity review of Training Package components

May 2019
IRC consideration for sign-off and submission for endorsement

Project Team

The Racing and Breeding Industry Reference Committee (IRC) will oversee this project, as part of their responsibility to support engagement with the sector, and to ensure the project meets industry stakeholder needs.

Qualifications and Units

Below is a list of the units of competency and qualifications proposed for revision as part of this project. Use the links below to view the components on training.gov.au.

In preparation for the review of these components, we invite you to provide your input on the current qualifications units. We would like to know what changes or updates should be made to the components so that they meet the skills needs of the industry.

Your feedback will help us in drafting the revised qualifications and units.

To provide feedback, please use our feedback form. Alternatively, you can email Ruth Geldard [email protected]

Stakeholder Consultation Process

A list of key stakeholder organisations has been identified for this project. Skills Impact will ensure contact is made with each of these organisations during the development of this project to seek their involvement and their views on the draft qualifications, skill sets and units.

If you are aware of an organisation that you think should be involved, please contact the project team to ensure they are contacted by us.

Of course, all and any interested industry participants are encouraged to engage in the consultation of this project, when the draft skill sets and units are available for feedback via this webpage and workshops that take place around Australia. Consultation is not limited to the organisations on this list. This list simply helps us to identify those organisations that, because of their industry role, size or specialty, are likely to have a key interest in the development and outcomes of this project.

Subject Matter Experts

Subject Matter Experts will be drawn on throughout this project to help review and draft the revised qualifications, skill sets and units.

If you are interested in applying to be a Subject Matter Expert and are able to volunteer your time to this project, please email details of your expertise to [email protected].

Opportunities for stakeholder input

Stakeholder input is appreciated throughout the duration of this project. The documents will be drafted in consultation with Subject Matter Experts and their networks. Opportunities to provide targeted feedback will occur when the draft materials are made available in October/November 2018, and again for validation of final drafts in February/March 2019. However, your feedback is welcomed at any time, and will help us in drafting the skill sets and units. It is important that training provides a skilled and flexible workforce for the future. The skill sets and units need to reflect real work experience. So if you work in the sector, Skills Impact would appreciate your input and help. Please feel free to register your interest for project updates and consultation opportunities by following the newsletter subscription link below. Alternatively, please feel free to contact the project manager, Ruth Geldard on 03 9321 3526 or [email protected].

Consultation has begun with Subject Matter Experts to define skills requirements specific to job roles in horse breeding, identifying relevant units of competency and qualifications for development from the RGR Racing and Breeding and ACM Animal Care and Management Training Packages.

Discussions at consultation meetings held in Melbourne have considered the migration of units and qualifications related to Horse Breeding from the ACM Animal Care and Management Training Package to the RGR Racing and Breeding Training Package on the basis that:

• the racing industry is the largest and most complex horse breeding sector, and
• units and qualifications would be able to apply to horses generally with some racing specific elective units.

Three qualifications to be reviewed and considered for migration from ACM to RGR are:

• Certificate III in Horse Breeding
• Certificate IV in Horse Breeding
• Diploma of Horse Breeding.

Proposed new skill sets are proposed in the following areas:

• Natural Horse Breeding Supervision
• Horse Artificial Insemination
• Breeding Stallion Care
• Mare and Foal Care
• Yearling Preparation.

Discussions have also considered:

• Current units of competency covering infection control for inclusion in reviewed qualifications
• Introducing elective groups to provide greater structure/guidance on selecting electives
• Inclusion of imported units to encourage mobility between sectors
• Delivery implications for pre-requisite units within qualifications and potential for specialisations within qualifications.

Face-to-Face Consultation Workshops – Registrations Open!

Broad stakeholder consultation is scheduled to commence in November, when draft units and skill sets will be made available for comment on this webpage (under the ‘Drafts Available’ menu above) and national consultation workshops will be held. Registration for these workshops are now open – dates and times are listed below. Please feel free to register for a workshop near you by clicking the corresponding link. A webinar is also planned for those unable to attend in person.

14 Nov 18, 10am to 1pm – Hunter Valley (Scone), NSW (Horses) – register here

15 Nov 18, 12pm to 1.30pm – Brisbane, QLD (Horses) – register here

19 Nov 18, 12pm to 2pm – Melbourne, VIC (Horses) – register here

20 Nov 18, 12pm to 2pm – Hobart, TAS (Horses) – register here

22 Nov 18, 12pm to 1.30pm – Adelaide, SA – (Horses) – register here

28 Nov 18, 12pm to 1.30pm – Perth, WA – (Horses) – register here

Consultation Webinar

Tue 4 Dec 18, 10am to 1pm – Webinar – register here

Register your interest

Thank you to all those who provided feedback on the four qualifications, five skill sets and 22 units of competency. The drafts were made available on this webpage for broad stakeholder review from 30 October – 9 December 2018. They have been revised to incorporate the knowledge and skills that are essential to breed racehorses in line with specific Australian breeding requirements, taking in to consideration foaling down, nutrition, development of the foal, knowledge of pedigrees, business management and relevant rules and regulations. Knowledge of pedigrees, business management and the rules and regulations particular to the breeding of Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds has also be incorporated.

Feedback was sought on whether the draft qualifications, skill sets and units reflect the current skills standards and practices of industry, and whether job functions are accurately described. Feedback will inform the work on the final drafts, which will be available for industry validation in early March 2019.

Thank you to those who participated in the validation process for the final draft qualifications, skill sets and units of competency relating to horse breeding skills. The documents were made available on this webpage for validation and comment from 8 – 31 March 2019.

The final drafts will shortly progress through to the Finalisation stage of the project which includes quality assurance of the documents and review and feedback from the State/Territory Training Authorities. They will then be forwarded to the Racing and Breeding Industry Reference Committee for consideration and sign off, before being submitted to the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) to consider and approve for publication on training.gov.au.

Validation means checking and confirming that the documents are logical and factually accurate.

Download Summary of Feedback, Responses and Actions