8 February 2010
DAFF10/379B

The Rudd Government is allocating an additional $400,000 to help upskill workers in the kangaroo industry. 

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke said it is important that the 4,000 people employed within the kangaroo industry are equipped with the skills to best perform their jobs.

“The Rudd Government is committed to supporting jobs in regional communities and will continue to support the industry in meeting the increasingly stringent quality demanded by importing countries,” Mr Burke said.

The funding would be used to extend the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation’s current kangaroo harvester training program.

The additional funds will be used to accelerate training delivery, update and enhance training materials, develop a competency-based qualification and on-the-job assessment framework to facilitate ongoing training, and retrain and assess skills and knowledge of harvesters

“Investing in product and skills improvement is essential for regaining access to the market in  Russia as well as underpinning new markets, such as China,” Mr Burke said.

“This training will ensure that kangaroo harvesters have the skills to meet international requirements and changing market conditions.  

“All kangaroo harvesters receive training before they are first licensed—this program builds on that training to upgrade their skills on an on-going basis.”

A key part of the training will be the inclusion of a practical skills assessment where harvesters will need to demonstrate their competency through one of a number of assessment methods, such as an on-the-job demonstration.