Uptake of training and animal health and welfare practices

Summary

Having skilled participants across the livestock export supply chain is pivotal in maintaining animal health and welfare. It also supports productivity and ongoing industry sustainability.

Training is currently provided in many forms, including as part of the LiveCorp Shipboard Stockperson Accreditation Program, through the Livestock Export Program’s (LEP) in-market activities, and provided directly by livestock exporters. The training is often designed to support compliance with the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL) and Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) or is quite specific and tailored to address a particular issue.

This project developed a ‘whole of industry’ strategy to provide a practical and effective pathway to support the uptake of training in best practice animal health and welfare management across the supply chain and ensure there is continual improvement in the knowledge and capability of individuals working across the industry.

A competency profile for the roles across the supply chain and a training plan were also provided.

Objectives

The objectives of this project were to:

• Identify the critical animal health and welfare risks or opportunities along the livestock export supply chain that could be mitigated or improved through the provision of training or competency development
• Identify the drivers of engagement for individuals throughout the supply chain to participate in training
• Provide recommendations for the development of a structured training framework and implementation plan.The project used a HACCP risk assessment model and a service design methodology.

Key findings

The project identified the following training needs and opportunities for the livestock export industry:

• An increased focus on the identification of injury, illness and disease, including animals that are not fit for export.
• Regular access to training to combat staff turnover and lack of knowledge retention.
• An enhanced ability to evaluate the effectiveness of training and track participation and completion of training.
• Improved access to current and relevant training materials across the supply chain.
• Support for stakeholders to improve cross-cultural awareness, communication skills and conflict resolution.

Benefits to industry

A structured training framework for the livestock export industry will reduce the duplication of costs for compliance in training individuals, provide access to more skilled workers, and increase the widespread use of best practices in livestock handling and management.

MLA action

The Livestock Export Research & Development Advisory Committee is currently considering the recommendations from this project.

Future research

This project made four key recommendations:

1. Implementation of a ‘Standards of Competency” program for industry
2. Development of an industry learning hub to centralise industry training resources
3. Development of a Continual Professional Development (CPD) program for all industry sectors to track and maintain industry capability
4. Development of an industry ‘Employer of Choice” concept to reward and recognise employer training excellence