This project is formed as part of two skills priorities that were identified in the 2018-2021 Agriculture, Horticulture, Conservation and Land Management IRC Skills Forecast and Proposed Schedule of Work (see pages 61-62). In addressing these skill needs, this project will identify and fill gaps in current skill sets and units of competency from the AHC Agriculture, Horticulture, Conservation and Land Management Training Package to address skills needs in carbon farming and agribusiness.

Carbon Farming
Carbon farming includes conservation,  land management and farming activities that reduce emissions or sequester carbon dioxide in the landscape. Support from the National Farmers’ Federation for farmers to access the Emissions Reduction Fund, and a growing interest from farmers to diversify farming activities and income, have increased awareness of carbon farming. However, the previously endorsed carbon farming units and skills sets have been superseded, with no replacements. Currently, there is no nationally-endorsed training available for farmers, managers and conservation and land management workers to fill this growing skills gap.

Agribusiness
Australia is experiencing increasing market demands for innovation in product development, to ensure the viability of enterprises and to take advantage of opportunities in the new free trade agreement with Asia Pacific partners. To respond to the dynamic and changing operating environment, with increased competition and opportunities to reach global markets, skills are required in strategic planning, risk management, mergers and acquisitions, online marketing, business development and financial planning. New skills in agricultural innovation strategies, implementation of new products and innovation leadership to lead innovative thinking and practice are also required.

Skills Impact and the Agriculture and Production Horticulture 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 pages 61-62)

Project Scope

This project will review and develop agribusiness qualifications, carbon farming skill sets and related units of competency so that all job functions are accurately described, with appropriate current knowledge and skill needs.

Carbon farming includes conservation,  land management and farming activities that reduce emissions or sequester carbon dioxide in the landscape. Carbon farming practices are becoming increasingly important, but there are few nationally endorsed units, skill sets or qualifications to support training in this area. There is also a growing interest from farmers, managers and conservation and land management workers in diversifying activities and income through carbon farming practices.

There is also increasing demand for innovation in agricultural product development, and the skills required in strategic planning, risk management, mergers and acquisitions, online marketing, business development and financial planning. New skills in agricultural innovation strategies, implementation of new products and innovation leadership to lead innovative thinking and practice are also required.

Scroll down to view the qualifications, skill sets and units that will be reviewed in this project. They will be incorporated in the AHC Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management Training Package.

Relevant Occupations

Rural and regional agribusiness managers (including lending managers, insurance brokers, machinery dealers, chemical resellers, stock agents, grain marketers and real estate agents), agriculture enterprise business managers, production horticulture enterprise business managers, agribusiness administrators.

Key Deliverables

Review and development of agribusiness qualifications, carbon farming skill sets and related units of competency.

Timeline

August 2018
Initial scoping

September – November 2018
Development of draft qualifications, skill sets and units

November – December 2018
Drafts available for broader consultation

February 2019
Validation of final drafts

March – April 2019
Finalisation of Training Package components

May – June 2019
Independent Quality Assurance, and Edit and Equity review of Training Package components

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

Project Team

Qualifications, skill sets and units

Below is a list of current qualifications, skill sets and units proposed for revision and development as part of this project.

In preparation for the review of these components, we invite you to provide your input on the current qualifications, skill sets and 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. Use the links below to view the current components on training.gov.au.

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

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

Subject Matter Experts

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

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]

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 qualifications, 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.

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, which is expected to be November – December 2018, and again for validation of final drafts in February 2019. However, your feedback is welcomed at any time, and will help us in drafting the qualifications, skill sets and units. It is important that training provides a skilled and flexible workforce for the future. The qualifications, 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, Cathy on 03 9321 3526 or [email protected].

The Agriculture and Production Horticulture Industry Reference Committee (IRC) and Amenity Horticulture, Landscaping, Conservation & Land Management 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.

Initial development work on this project has begun. Subject Matter Experts (SME) are being consulted to draft the revised qualifications, skill sets and units of competency. Meetings with these experts have taken place to address feedback that was received  in the early ‘Project Plan‘ stage of this project.

SME meetings were held during September, with people who work directly in the Carbon farming and Agribusiness Industry. These meetings helped to identify the various job roles and tasks that exist within the industry. The information gathered will help determine where qualifications, skill sets and units of competency may be developed or revised, to assist with addressing training gaps within these sectors.

Please feel welcome to continue to provide feedback about the current and existing qualifications, skill set and units that will be revised in this project. To view the qualifications, skill set and units that will be reviewed in this project, select the ‘Project Plan’ menu option above.

Consultation Workshops – Registrations Open!

Thank you to those stakeholders that have been involved and provided feedback and advice so far. The revised draft qualifications, skill sets and units will be made available on this webpage for public consideration and feedback from November 2018 (under the ‘Drafts Available’ menu above). Face-to-face consultation workshops will also take place, across states and territories, with a webinar planned for those unable to attend in person. Registrations for these workshops are now open. Please feel free to register for a workshop near you by clicking the corresponding link.

Face-to-Face Consultation Workshops

Thu 15 Nov 18, 9am to 12pm – Brisbane – register here

Mon 19 Nov 18, 10.30am to 12.30pm – Hobart – register here

Tue 20 Nov 18, 9am to 12pm – Sydney– register here

Fri 30 Nov 18, 10am to 12.30pm – Melbourne – register here

Wed 5 Dec 18, 9.30am to 12.30pm – Adelaide – register here 

Thu 6 Dec 18, 9am to 12pm – Perth – register here 

Tue 11 Dec 18, 1.30pm to 4.30pm – Darwin – register here 

Thu 13 Dec 18, 9.30am to 12.30pm – Cairns – register here 

Consultation Webinar

Fri 30 Nov 18, 1pm to 3pm – Webinar – register here

Thank you to all those who provided feedback on the draft qualifications, skill sets and units of competency for agribusiness and carbon farming. The drafts were made available on this webpage for broad stakeholder review and feedback from 21 November – 21 December 2018.

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.

Agribusiness – Three revised qualifications, one new skill set and 44 revised units have been drafted to clarify job tasks, assessment requirements (including the volume and frequency of performance for assessment) and to remove duplication.

Carbon Farming – A suite of eight units and five skill sets have been developed to address skills and knowledge related to carbon farming.

Feedback will inform the work on the final drafts which will be available for industry validation in February 2019.

Thank you to those who participated in the validation process for the final draft qualifications, skill sets and units of competency. The final drafts were made available on the Skills Impact website from 8 – 22 February 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 Agriculture and Production Horticulture Industry Reference Committee (IRC) and Amenity Horticulture, Landscaping, Conservation & Land Management IRC 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. 

Agribusiness

• Those responsible for the administration and day to day business operations of an agricultural or horticultural production enterprise
• Farm manager/administrator
• Production unit manager/administrator
• Station/property manager/Agribusiness manager/administrator
• Horticulture production manager
• Rural and regional agribusiness manager or advisor (including lending managers, insurance brokers machinery dealers, chemical resellers, stock agents, grain marketers)
• Agribusiness advisor or consultant
• Agriculture enterprise business manager
• Production horticulture enterprise business manager

Carbon farming

• Carbon farming consultants and advisors
• Carbon farming projects carried out on Aboriginal land, and/or run by Aboriginal organisations utilising a savanna burning method
• Land holders or land managers, who are considering the establishment of a soil-based, carbon farming project
• Land holders or land managers, who are considering the establishment of an agricultural carbon farming method
• Land holders or land managers, who are considering the establishment of a vegetation carbon farming method

Download Summary of Feedback, Responses and Actions