Queensland Seafood Industry Training Needs Analysis Craig Winkel

Brief 2 In 2005/6 the Department of Employment and Training provided funds for a training needs analysis of the Queensland seafood industry. The objective was to review the success of the uptake of the Seafood Industry Training Package and to better understand the enablers and the inhibitors that impact on the uptake of training in the industry.

Background 3 The Industry The Queensland seafood industry comprises predominantly of small to medium operators.  85% employ less than 50 staff  72 % of the industry’s employees are classified as process workers and/or general hands, the majority of whom are itinerant workers hired on a seasonal basis. Given this make up, the industry has lacked the ability to bring about a training culture.

Background 4 In 2000, the Seafood Industry Training Package was introduced four different streams:  Fishing operations;  Seafood processing, sale and distribution;  Fisheries compliance and  Aquaculture. The ultimate aim of this package is to encourage a more professional approach to the industry; however, the adoption of the training has not matched expectations.

Methodology 5 To capture industry views a survey was produced The survey consisting of 104 questions divided into 5 sections 1. General questions on business structure 2. Present uptake of either ‘in-house’ or externally provided training 3. Familiarity with the seafood training package 4. Future interest in training 5. Perception of needed training topics

The survey 6 The survey was initially trailed with members of the QLD Seafood Marketers Association to allow revisions to be made. All surveys were conducted face to face. This allowed higher response rate and rigorous quality control over the interviews and data collection

Participants 7 The survey was targeted at senior staff of seafood / aquaculture businesses having 10 or more employees 84 business in Queensland fell within this criteria of these 56 businesses were surveyed. Of the participants surveyed 60% were owner operators 24% were senior managers 16% were technical or HR managers

Participants by location 8 Gulf - 6Cairns - 16 Townsville - 10 Bowen / Mackay - 5 Rockhampton / Gladstone – 1 Bundy / Hervey Bay - 8 Sunshine Coast - 9 Brisbane - 13 Gold Coast - 4 Sectors surveyed where areas of main fishing / aquaculture

19% 16% 65% Post Harvest OperationsFishingAquaculture Industry Sub Sections Surveyed 9

Questionnaire 10 All questions were given a ranking of 1 to 10 1 being unfamiliar or poor response 10 being very familiar or good response This allowed quantitative measurements and statistical analysis to be completed.

Results 11

Familiarity with the seafood industry training package % of respondents had heard of the package When questioned about their knowledge of the contents of the package - Ranking of 3.5

Externally provided training % of businesses had conducted some external training in the last 12 months 60% of external training was through RTO’s The average training per participant <10 hours <12% employees within those businesses undertook training This equates to 4.2% of staff within the industry undertook some form of external training.

Areas where external training was conducted 14 Food safety 46.3 OH&S 20.4 processing Techniques 14.8 Emergency systems 11.1 Staff supervision 5.6 Organisational skills 3.7 Communication skills 7.4 Fisheries management 0.0 Product analysis 3.7 Record keeping 5.6 Regulations 7.4 Dispute management 1.9 Problem solving 1.9 Waste management 1.9 Environmental management 5.6 Marketing 1.9 Main areas of training Food safety OH&S Processing techniques

15 Drivers of training

Factors influencing the purchasing of training 16 The top 5 responses were: 1. Subsidised training 2. Training conducted In-house 3. Expert trainers 4. Manuals provided 5. Certification

Factors preventing take up of training 17 Top 5 responses were 1. The cost of training 2. No time / too busy 3. Training not held in a convenient location 4. Unaware of what training was available 5. Training offered to their business not relevant to their needs.

Delivery Strategies 18 For process workers / general hand - field based training and one-on-one instruction was the most preferred Distance learning’ and web based training were identified as the least effective delivery method.

Training Needs 19 Respondents were asked to rank what training would be considered essential for seafood workers The top 5 are: 1.QA /Food safety 2.Growing & processing techniques 3.OH&S 4.Emergency systems 5.Environmental management

Impediments 20 Impediments which need to be overcome for the seafood industry to embrace training. 1. Convince the industry of the benefits of training their work force. (future cost benefits rather than the immediate costs) 2. Change the industries perception of the nature of training. (it does not have to be class room) 3. Be able to conduct training within the operational restrictions of the industry (seasonality & diversity of operations)

Conclusion 21 The seafood industry is now coming to grips with the reality that if it is to survive and prosper it must begin to recruit new people into the industry while retaining present employees.

How do we do this Suggestions Increasing community awareness of the opportunities within the seafood industry (Market the industry) Implement school based training programs Offer sustainable positions (traineeships) Upgrading existing employees skills to cope with the changes occurring within this sector (Casuals and permanents) 22

FYI - Post this survey 23 DET allocated funding for an RPL project for seafood supervisors where 36 certificate 3’s in Seafood Processing were awarded DET allocated funds for 30 traineeships for pre-existing workers in certificate 3 seafood processing traineeships DET has made training funding available for specific modules within the seafood training package for casual employees (179 participants have undergone training in seafood processing since 2006 through CSIT / SFD initiative) There are now 16 new employees trainees in certificate 3 seafood processing

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