Diploma & Advanced Diploma in Meat Processing Project

Menu: Click across the green arrows to view active and completed project stages. Consultation takes place at every stage of the project.

Case for change

Given the unique and challenging environment of meat processing, it is essential that those in management positions are equipped with industry specific expertise. The Diploma and Advanced Diploma level qualifications currently contain some imported units that support general management and leadership skills where appropriate. However, some of these units have now been updated and are no longer meet the needs of the meat processing industry. These two qualifications require review to identify where other imported units may be suitable or where new units could be developed.

Increased automation and use of big data are having a significant impact on the meat processing industry across all job roles, including at a management level. Skills are required in managing teams as they deal with technological advancements, including managing facilities and products, as well as legal and financial concerns. Expertise is also needed at a leadership level to identify opportunities and challenges, including managing change, developing strategy and establishing new markets.

The Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC) approved this project via a Case for Change submitted by Skills Impact in 2019 on behalf of the Meat IRC.

Skills Impact and the Meat Industry Reference Committee (IRC) will manage this project, consistent with the 2012 Standards for Training Package Development.

Download Project Proposal (see pages 31-35)

Project Plan

Australia is a major figure in the global meat market, as well as being one of the largest per capita consumers of beef and sheep meat in the world. It’s no surprise then that red meat processing plays a significant role in the Australian economy, employing 438,100 people in 2016-17 (Red Meat Advisory Council). This is a unique and challenging environment with comprehensive regulation governing food safety, quality assurance, traceability, biosecurity, environmental impacts and work health and safety. To maintain a competitive edge and keep up with consumer demand, it’s imperative to support skills at a management level to develop business strategy, and identify opportunities and new products. The diploma and advanced diploma level qualifications support the development of skills in management and leadership and are vital to the future of the industry.

Increased use of automation and big data offer space for innovation in processing methods. At the same time, scientific developments such as cultured and artificial meat present opportunities for new products. The industry requires skills in strategy, product development and marketing in order to take full advantage of these and other opportunities as they arise. Leadership skills are needed to manage the many challenges of the industry, including improvement of animal welfare practices across the supply chain and adherence to the various compliance requirements of international markets.

Consultation with the meat processing industry will continue throughout the life of this project to review the diploma and advanced diploma qualifications and units. A focus of this review will be ensuring the qualifications are broad enough to be used throughout different industry sub-sectors. This is a significant opportunity for the meat processing industry to update skills standards in roles that will steer the industry into the future.

Project Scope

This project will undertake a comprehensive review and update of:

  • AMP50215 Diploma of Meat Processing
  • AMP50115 Diploma of Meat Processing (Meat Retailing)
  • AMP60115 Advanced Diploma of Meat Processing

Twenty-eight current units of competency will be reviewed for suitability, and up to ten additional units will be either imported or where necessary developed to meet industry skill requirements.

 

Register your interest in the project

Subscribe to the Skills Impact newsletter to keep informed about project updates and opportunities to provide input and feedback. Make sure to select ‘Meat Processing’ as your industry of interest on the subscription form.

 

Relevant Occupations
  • Meat processing manager
  • Meat retailing manager
  • Meat processing manager – smallgoods
  • Meat processing manager – poultry processing
  • Maintenance manager
  • Feedlot manager

  

Project Team
Jenny Kroonstuiver Chief Executive Officer, MINTRAC [email protected]
Sharon Fitzgerald Senior Project Officer, MINTRAC [email protected]
Tania Minehan Project Officer, MINTRAC [email protected]
Paige Mazoudier Cadet Project Officer, MINTRAC [email protected]

Timeline

August – September 2019
Initial scoping

September – October 2019
Development of draft skill sets and units

October – November 2019
Drafts available for broad consultation

December 2019 – February 2020
Validation of final drafts

February – May 2020
Finalisation of Training Package components

May – June 2020
Submission for endorsement


Subject Matter Experts

Subject Matter Experts will be drawn on throughout this project to help review and draft the revised units 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]

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 on first drafts will occur in October and November 2019, and for the validation of final drafts between December 2019 and February 2020. The qualifications and units need to reflect real work experience in order to ensure training provides a skilled and flexible workforce for the future. As such, your feedback is welcome at any time, to assist in the development of appropriate draft documents.

If you work in the sector, Skills Impact would appreciate your input. Register your interest to receive project updates and information about consultation opportunities by following the newsletter subscription link below. Alternatively, please feel free to contact the project manager, Sharon Fitzgerald on 0408 612 883 or [email protected]

Stakeholder Consultation Process

A list of key stakeholder organisations has been identified for this project based on their industry role, size or specialty. Skills Impact will ensure contact is made with each of these organisations to seek their involvement and views on all draft skill sets and units. Consultation is not limited to the organisations on this list, they have simply been identified as the most likely to have a key interest in the development and outcomes of this project

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.

Development

The Australian Meat industry is a unique and challenging environment with comprehensive regulation governing food safety, quality assurance, traceability, biosecurity, environmental impacts and work health and safety. To maintain a competitive edge and keep up with consumer demand, it’s imperative to support skills at a management level to develop business strategy and identify opportunities and new products. The skills standards captured in the diploma and advanced diploma level qualifications support the development of skills in management and leadership and are vital to the future of the industry. This project will undertake a comprehensive review and update of:

  • AMP50215 Diploma of Meat Processing
  • AMP50115 Diploma of Meat Processing (Meat Retailing)
  • AMP60115 Advanced Diploma of Meat Processing.

Twenty-eight current units of competency are being reviewed for suitability, and up to ten additional units will be imported or where necessary developed to meet industry skill requirements.

The project has been discussed at a number of meat industry network meetings and promoted through email and MINTRAC’s newsletter. As a result, a number of industry stakeholders have contacted the project team to register their interest in the project as either a member of the Technical Advisory Committee or as part of the broader general consultation process. Key industry stakeholders were also identified and invited directly to take part in the project.

A short questionnaire was provided to the members of the Technical Advisory Committee to gain their initial responses on the proposed deletion of the AMP50115 Diploma of Meat Processing (Meat Retailing), and the suitability of the units currently in the AMP50215 Diploma of Meat Processing and AMP60115 Advanced Diploma of Meat Processing.

Development outcomes and next steps

Development outcomes so far have included:

  • No objections raised to the proposal to delete the AMP50115 Diploma of Meat Processing (Meat Retailing)
  • Proposed incorporation of the units from AMP50115 Diploma of Meat Processing (Meat Retailing) into AMP50215 Diploma of Meat Processing
  • Proposed replacement of the deleted imported unit MSL916005 Manage complex projects with BSBPMG522 Undertake project work
  • Consideration given to importing two TLI units related to supply chains into the AMP50215 Diploma of Meat Processing
  • Drafts developed for three new units proposed to be included in AMP50215 Diploma of Meat Processing, including a unit for managing a feedlot facility, a unit for managing supply chains and enterprise animal welfare performance, and a unit to cover poultry management which is still under development

Broad stakeholder consultation is scheduled to commence in mid-October, when draft units and qualifications will be made available for comment on this webpage. Your input is welcome, please feel free to register your interest to keep informed of project updates and when draft materials are available for feedback.

 

Register your interest in the project

Subscribe to the Skills Impact newsletter to keep informed about project updates and opportunities to provide input and feedback. Make sure to select ‘Meat Processing’ as your industry of interest on the subscription form.

 

Drafts Available

Australian meat is highly sought after in both local and global markets. The industry employed 438,100 people in 2016-17 (Red Meat Advisory Council). Management and leadership skills help the Australian meat industry to develop business strategy and identify opportunities and new products, so that businesses can maintain a competitive edge and keep up with consumer demand.

The skills standards captured in the diploma and advanced diploma level qualifications support the development of skills in management and leadership and are vital to the future of the industry.

Thank you to those who provided feedback on the draft qualifications and units of competency that were available on this wepage for feedback from 14 October – 8 November 2019. 

During this time, feedback was collected via the online feedback hub, by phone and email. The drafts, including any comments made on the feedback hub, are still available for viewing below.

Feedback will inform the work on the final drafts which are expected to be available for industry validation between December 2019 and February 2020. A summary of the feedback and how it was addressed in the final drafts will also be available.

Two new draft units have been developed for inclusion in both qualifications. It is also proposed that elective units from AMP50115 Diploma of Meat Processing (Meat Retailing), which is proposed for deletion, are included in the diploma and advanced diploma. One unit included in both qualifications has been superseded and needs to be updated to the current version. Two supply chain units from the Transport and Logistics Training Package are being considered to be imported.

AMP50215 Diploma of Meat Processing View draft qualification
AMP60115 Advanced Diploma of Meat Processing View draft qualification

The draft document can be downloaded in Microsoft Word format by clicking here.

Qualification proposed to be deleted as it has had very few graduates since it was introduced in 2000. Feedback is sought to ch that doing so will not negatively impact the industry in any way.

AMP50115 Diploma of Meat Processing (Meat Retailing) View existing qualification on training.gov.au

These new units have been developed to address gaps in the current qualifications.

AMPMGT511 Manage feedlot facility View draft unit
AMPMGT512 Manage supply chain and enterprise animal welfare performance View draft unit

The draft document can be downloaded in Microsoft Word format by clicking here.

These units have been updated into current unit of competency formats and updated to reflect current industry practices and sectors of the meat industry that were not considered when the units were developed, including feedlots, poultry processing and maintenance management.

AMPMGT501 Design and manage the food safety system View draft unit
AMPMGT502 Manage new product or process development View draft unit
AMPMGT503 Develop and assess a meat retailing business opportunity View draft unit
AMPMGT504 Develop, manage and maintain quality systems View draft unit
AMPMGT505 Manage maintenance systems View draft unit
AMPMGT506 Manage utilities and energy View draft unit
AMPMGT507 Manage and improve meat industry enterprise operations View draft unit
AMPMGT508 Manage environmental impacts of meat industry operations View draft unit
AMPMGT509 Manage, maintain and continuously improve workplace health and safety plans and systems View draft unit
AMPMGT510 Manage transportation of meat, meat products and meat by-products View draft unit
AMPMGT601 Benchmark to manage and improve enterprise performance View draft unit
AMPMGT602 Monitor and manage organisational legal responsibilities View draft unit
AMPMGT603 Manage meat processing systems to maintain and improve product quality View draft unit
AMPMGT604 Manage effective operation of meat enterprise cold chain and refrigeration systems View draft unit
AMPMGT605 Assess and purchase livestock View draft unit
AMPMGT606 Analyse and develop enterprise systems for new opportunities View draft unit
AMPMGT607 Establish new markets View draft unit

The draft document can be downloaded in Microsoft Word format by clicking here.

These units have been checked to see if they are suitable for use by the meat industry. Substantial changes to these units are not within the scope of this project.

AHCBUS603 Develop and review a strategic plan (proposed to replace SIRXMGT005A Set strategic plans) View existing unit on training.gov.au
BSBCOM501 Identify and interpret compliance requirements View existing unit on training.gov.au
BSBDIV601 Develop and implement diversity policy View existing unit on training.gov.au
BSBFIM501 Manage budgets and financial plans View existing unit on training.gov.au
BSBFIM601 Manage finances View existing unit on training.gov.au
BSBINN601 Lead and manage organisational change View existing unit on training.gov.au
BSBMGT605 Provide leadership across the organisation View existing unit on training.gov.au
BSBMGT617 Develop and implement a business plan View existing unit on training.gov.au
BSBMKG502 Establish and adjust the marketing mix View existing unit on training.gov.au
BSBPMG522 Undertake project work (recommended to replace the superseded MSL916005 Manage complex projects, as the new MSL916010 Manage complex projects is specific to laboratories and not suitable for use in the meat industry) View existing unit on training.gov.au
SIRXMGT005 Lead the development of business opportunities View existing unit on training.gov.au

These units are proposed to import into the qualifications. Changes to these units are not within the scope of this project.

TLIX9983X Manage fundamental aspects of supply chains View existing unit on training.gov.au
TLIX9986X Establish blockchain in a supply chain This unit is currently part of a project being undertaken by Australian Industry Standards, and is currently pending endorsement and publication on training.gov.au. Feedback is sought regarding the inclusion of the unit within the diploma and advanced diploma only.

View draft unit

Summary of consultation to date

The draft qualifications and units have been drafted in consultation with Subject Matter Experts. They have considered feedback that was received from the responses to a questionnaire sent to the Technical Advisory Committee about the key requirements of the job roles covered by the qualifications and the suitability of the current units available in the qualifications. People working directly in the meat industry participated and provided information on the skills and knowledge required for job roles and tasks. Thank you to those who provided feedback during these activities.

 

Register your interest in the project

Subscribe to the Skills Impact newsletter to keep informed about project updates and opportunities to provide input and feedback. Make sure to select ‘Meat Processing’ as your industry of interest on the subscription form.

 

Validation

The Australian meat processing industry is dependent on strong management and leadership skills to maintain its status for producing highly sought after products in both local and global markets. Skills at this level are supported by the Diploma of Meat Processing and Advanced Diploma of Meat Processing, which define the skills standards needed for developing business strategy and identifying opportunities and new products. Keeping these qualifications up to date and relevant is vital to the future of the industry, helping Australian businesses to maintain a competitive edge and keep up with consumer demand

Thank you to those who provided feedback on the final draft Diploma of Meat Processing and Advanced Diploma of Meat Processing qualifications and units of competency that were made available on this webpage for feedback from 4 December 2019 – 2 February 2020.

The qualifications have been updated to address identified improvements and to incorporate skills in animal welfare throughout the supply chain. The two new units for managing a feedlot facility and managing supply chain and enterprise animal welfare performance have undergone some changes as a result of comments made by industry on the initial drafts. The proposed deletion of the Diploma of Meat Processing (Meat Retailing) has not been met with any concern at this stage.

Validation means checking and confirming that the documents are logical, factual and accurate. Final drafts of the qualifications and units can be viewed in the lists below.

 

Summary of consultation to date

The units were drafted with guidance from Subject Matter Experts, made up of workplace experts and industry. Thank you to those stakeholders who provided feedback on the drafts that were made available from 14 October to 18 November, under the ‘Drafts Available’ stage. During this time, feedback was collected via the online feedback hub, face-to-face consultation and, and via phone call and email. . Feedback that was received on the initial drafts was considered to redraft versions of these final drafts.

A description of how feedback has been considered and applied in these final drafts can be downloaded below. Please click the ‘Download Summary of Feedback, Responses and Actions’ button.

Both qualifications have been reviewed and updated to incorporate skills to address industry sectors that were not considered when the qualifications were first developed, including feedlots, poultry processing, maintenance management. They have also been revised to incorporate the skills required to manage animal welfare performance in enterprises and across the supply chain.

Qualification code and name Proposed changes Link
AMP50215 Diploma of Meat Processing Two new draft units developed. Inclusion of elective units from AMP50115 Diploma of Meat Processing (Meat Retailing). Replacement of imported unit related to project management. Consideration of importing two supply chain units from the TLI Training Package. View final draft qualification
AMP60115 Advanced Diploma of Meat Processing Two new draft units developed. Inclusion of elective units from AMP50115 Diploma of Meat Processing (Meat Retailing). Replacement of imported unit related to project management. Consideration of importing two supply chain units from the TLI Training Package. View final draft qualification

 

Qualification proposed to be deleted as it has had very few graduates since it was introduced in 2000. No objections have been raised to the proposed deletion.

AMP50115 Diploma of Meat Processing (Meat Retailing) View existing qualification on training.gov.au

 

These new units have been developed to address gaps in the current qualifications. As a result of feedback received changes have been made to the Performance Criteria and Knowledge evidence of AMPMGT511 Manage feedlot facility.

Unit code and name Proposed changes Link
AMPMGT511 Manage feedlot facility Sector not previously addressed in the qualifications. Specific requirements for managing feedlots not covered by generic units. View final draft unit
AMPMGT512 Manage supply chain and enterprise animal welfare performance Animal welfare performance in the supply chain and enterprise is not addressed by units elsewhere. View final draft unit

 

These units have been reviewed. The AMP units have been updated to reflect the current unit of competency formats, current industry practices and sectors of the meat industry that were not considered when the units were developed, including feedlots, poultry processing and maintenance management. Imported units have been checked to ensure they are still current and suitable for use by the meat industry and alternate units identified where needed.

 Click here to download a zipped folder of all units in this group. 

Unit code and name Link
AMPMGT501 Design and manage the food safety system View final draft unit
AMPMGT502 Manage new product or process development View final draft unit
AMPMGT503 Develop and assess a meat retailing business opportunity View final draft unit
AMPMGT504 Develop, manage and maintain quality systems View final draft unit
AMPMGT505 Manage maintenance systems View final draft unit
AMPMGT506 Manage utilities and energy View final draft unit
AMPMGT507 Manage and improve meat industry plant operations View final draft unit
AMPMGT508 Manage environmental impacts of meat processing operations View final draft unit
AMPMGT509 Manage, maintain and continuously improve workplace health and safety plans and systems View final draft unit
AMPMGT510 Manage transportation of meat, meat products and meat by-products View final draft unit
AMPMGT601 Benchmark to manage and improve enterprise performance View final draft unit
AMPMGT602 Monitor and manage organisational legal responsibilities View final draft unit
AMPMGT603 Manage meat processing systems to maintain and improve product quality View final draft unit
AMPMGT604 Manage effective operation of meat enterprise cold chain and refrigeration systems View final draft unit
AMPMGT605 Assess and purchase livestock View final draft unit
AMPMGT606 Analyse and develop enterprise systems for new opportunities View final draft unit
AMPMGT607 Establish new markets View final draft unit

 

These units have been checked to see if they are suitable for use by the meat industry. Substantial changes to these units are not within the scope of this project.

AHCBUS603 Develop and review a strategic plan (proposed to replace SIRXMGT005A Set strategic plans) View existing unit on training.gov.au
BSBCOM501 Identify and interpret compliance requirements View existing unit on training.gov.au
BSBDIV601 Develop and implement diversity policy View existing unit on training.gov.au
BSBFIM501 Manage budgets and financial plans View existing unit on training.gov.au
BSBFIM601 Manage finances View existing unit on training.gov.au
BSBINN601 Lead and manage organisational change View existing unit on training.gov.au
BSBMGT605 Provide leadership across the organisation View existing unit on training.gov.au
BSBMGT617 Develop and implement a business plan View existing unit on training.gov.au
BSBMKG502 Establish and adjust the marketing mix View existing unit on training.gov.au
BSBPMG522 Undertake project work (recommended to replace the superseded MSL916005 Manage complex projects, as the new MSL916010 Manage complex projects is specific to laboratories and not suitable for use in the meat industry) View existing unit on training.gov.au
SIRXMGT005 Lead the development of business opportunities View existing unit on training.gov.au

 

These units are proposed to import into the qualifications as electives. These units are currently part of a project being undertaken by Australian Industry Standards, and are pending endorsement and publication on training.gov.au. Feedback is sought regarding the inclusion of the units within the diploma and advanced diploma only. Changes to these units are not within the scope of this project.

TLIX9983X Manage fundamental aspects of supply chains Not yet endorsed. View draft unit
TLIX9986X Establish blockchain in a supply chain Not yet endorsed. May be too specialised for the meat industry. View draft unit

 

 

Register your interest in the project

Subscribe to the Skills Impact newsletter to keep informed about project updates and opportunities to provide input and feedback. Make sure to select ‘Meat Processing’ as your industry of interest on the subscription form.

Finalisation

Australia is a major producer of meat products for domestic and global markets. In order to maintain a competitive edge, the Australian meat processing industry requires strong management and leadership skills. Increasing automation together with other technological advances present space for innovation in processing methods. Big data provides opportunities to obtain information such as animal health data at a national level, as well as gain data to give feedback up and down the supply chain to ensure meat products meet customer specifications and importing country requirements. Leadership and management skills need to keep pace with rapidly changing technical meat skills and supporting the workforce to work to their potential to take full advantage of these and other opportunities and to manage the many challenges of the industry, including improvement of animal welfare practices and adherence to domestic and international compliance requirements. Skills at this level are supported by the Diploma of Meat Processing and Advanced Diploma of Meat Processing, which define the skills standards needed to effectively manage organisations and the sector more broadly.

As a result of industry input throughout this project, an updated Diploma of Meat Processing, the Diploma of Meat Processing (Meat Retailing) and Advanced Diploma of Meat Processing were published on the training.gov.au website within the Australian Meat Processing Training Package on 12 April 2020. 

The review process enabled the introduction of new technical meat units, such as the management of feedlots and managing supply chain and animal welfare performance. It also provided the opportunity to import other units fundamental to work in the industry, such as managing supply chains and establishing blockchain in a supply chain, as well as for skills in management and leadership. It also enabled the broadening of the scope of the Diploma and Advanced Diploma to apply to sub-sectors of the meat industry, such as feedlots, maintenance engineering and poultry processing, and to incorporate the Diploma of Meat Processing (Meat Retailing) into the Diploma of Meat Processing.

Summary of consultation

The qualifications and units underwent two broad consultation periods between October 2019 and February 2020. A summary of the feedback received during these stages and how it was considered and applied can be downloaded below. Feedback at these two key stages (‘Drafts Available’ and ‘Validation’) was collected via the online feedback hub, face-to-face consultation and, and via phone call and email. The project was also discussed at AMPC Network Meetings held between July 2019 and February 2020. 

As part of the final review process it was brought to our attention that there was a significant issue with the Advanced Diploma of Meat Processing. The Diploma of Meat Processing is nested within the Advanced Diploma. The meat industry has for some years been used to one qualification being embedded in another as they have seen this as a pathway into higher level qualifications. Nesting of qualifications is no longer allowed, in line with the Standards for Training Packages 2012 and as such both qualifications have had to be redrafted to remove the embedded Diploma from the Advanced Diploma.

In order to rectify this, the qualifications were revised and assigned new qualification codes and distributed for feedback from 7 – 27 July 2020 and again for validation from 14 – 21 October 2020. Additional minor changes were made to qualification descriptions to differentiate outcomes at each level in accordance with Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) and outcomes required by the meat industry. Some units of competency were moved between levels and placed in either the Diploma or Advanced Diploma, in accordance with the outcomes required at each level. Additionally, several units were removed where there was duplication and/or similarities between units.

The qualifications and units were developed with guidance from a Technical Advisory Committee made up of 12 workplace experts and industry. Throughout the project consultation occurred with industry representatives in every state, several national industry bodies, industry regulators in each state as well as federal, and RTOs delivering the qualifications in Queensland and Victoria. Notifications regarding the project and opportunities for feedback were sent out to MINTRAC and Skills Impact networks on a regular basis. 

The qualifications, skill sets and units were endorsed by the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (read the communique from the February 23 meeting) and State and Territory Ministers after undergoing an edit and equity and independent quality assurance process and consideration by the State/Territory Training Authorities (STAs/TTAs). A Case for Endorsement was submitted alongside the draft qualifications and units, including a rationale of why these changes are needed and evidence of industry support.

Click here to download the Case for Endorsement

Please find below links to the final documents, that are published on the training.gov.au website.

Companion Volume Implementation Guide

A Companion Volume Implementation Guide has also been produced to assist industry and registered training providers (RTOs) deliver the qualifications and units. It contains key information to help trainers adapt to any new changes, as well as additional information about the impacts of regulation and licensing implications and workplace health and safety on their training.

Click here to download the Companion Volume Implementation Guide Part 1

Click here to download the Companion Volume Implementation Guide Part 2

Qualification removed from the national register, as it has had very few graduates since it was introduced in 2000.

AMP50115 Diploma of Meat Processing (Meat Retailing)

 

This unit has been removed from the qualifications as the imported unit SIRXMGT005 Lead the development of business opportunities is a more suitable unit for the industry.

AMPMGT503 Develop and assess a meat retailing business opportunity