Thoroughbred Industry Programs to Address Skill Shortages

Our Role Establishing Skills Insight JSC

Skills Impact held a Skills Service Organisation (SSO) role between 2016 and 2022. In 2023 we established one of ten Job and Skills Councils (JSCs), after a submission to move into the role was backed by over 200 letters of support from a broad range of industry stakeholders. This new JSC, Skills Insight, has a broader scope to deliver outcomes that support a responsive VET system and a skilled and resilient national workforce. The industry coverage of Skills Insight is similar to our past coverage as a Skills Service Organisation.

Last month AFAM and Skills Impact visited the Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA), Thoroughbred Breeders NSW (TBNSW) and Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association (HTBA) to learn more about some of their innovative programs addressing industry skill shortages.

Skills Impact updated the horse breeding qualifications in 2019 and the qualifications were registered on the National Training Register in September 2019.

The industry is collaborating with a wide range of local and international stakeholders to develop and promote rewarding training and career opportunities for people interested in the horse industry.

The Thoroughly Schooled, EquiStart and Fast Track programs are three initiatives designed to attract talented young people to the sector, followed by a formal education pathway to develop and retain a skilled workforce into the future.

The Thoroughly Schooled Program, a NSW State program, was developed through the Regional Industry Education Partnerships program in collaboration with TBNSW, HTBA and TAFE NSW. The program aims to build practical skills for Year 10 to 12 students and expose them to the many multi-layered facets of the thoroughbred industry through work experience.
The EquiStart NSW State program has evolved in partnership with TBNSW, HTBA, TAFE NSW and Training Services NSW. This program provides a short introductory program with practical training and on-the-job experience and is one pathway for school leavers and career changers interested in thoroughbred breeding careers.
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia developed the Fast Track program to create a formal education pathway for young people and career changers across Australia to enter the sector. Successful student applicants are employed directly by a reputable stud farm via a full-time traineeship. An important part of the traineeship is to study a Certificate III in Horse Breeding, a nationally recognised qualification.

Learn more about careers and pathways in the Thoroughbred horse industry.

Our Role Establishing Skills Insight JSC

Visit the Skills Insight website

Thoroughbred Industry Programs to Address Skill Shortages

Skills Impact Ltd is a not-for-profit organisation with a charitable purpose of Advancing Education. Skills Impact acknowledges the previous support of the Commonwealth which assisted in establishing this website.