Red meat is big business. Australia’s red meat and livestock industry turnover was more than $75billion in 2021-22.
This equates to 1.7% of Australia’s total key industry turnover. NSW accounted for 28% of this, ahead of any other state or territory.
The industry employs more than 433,000 people.
However, many more are needed.
To meet this need for labour, TAFE NSW has teamed up with the Casino Food Co-op to deliver an employee training program.
The program started in May.
Co-op employees complete an on-site Certificate II in Meat Processing (Abattoirs) and gain practical skills and training to work in the livestock industry.
In Casino, more than 10% of employed people work in the meat industry, compared to only 0.2% in NSW and 0.3% nationally.
Casino Food Co-op chief executive Simon Stahl said there is a demand to meet the needs of industry and community by training the workforce of the future.
TAFE head teacher of Meat Trades- Agribusiness Wayne McGee said the course in Meat Processing offers a wide spectrum of career opportunities from traditional roles to more diverse career pathways including food safety, Work Health and Safety, quality control, livestock and administration, and food production and processing roles.
“Trainees learn to maintain equipment, adopt hygienic and safe work practices, gain an overview of the meat industry, and apply quality assurance procedures,” Mr McGee said.
The information in this story was provided by TAFE NSW.
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