Growing skills in red meat processing
The Casino Food Co-op, one of the largest red meat processors in New South Wales, has partnered with TAFE NSW to help build its skilled workforce.
The partnership, which began in May, includes a program giving workers more practical skills and training to work in the livestock and meat industry. At the end of the training, employees will receive an onsite Certificate II in Meat Processing.
The town of Casino has been long described as the “beef capital” with a large red meat industry.
Each year the town hosts the Casino Beef Week festival, a popular event attended by many that work in red meat processing and those who love Australia’s high-quality red meat.
Many people living in the Northern Rivers rely on the employment generated by the red meat processors.
More than 10 per cent of Casino’s employable population over 15 years work in the meat industry, and this partnership with TAFE NSW will help to develop the local industry even more.
The Co-op chief executive, Simon Stahl, is excited about the partnership, because skilled workers are needed as the red meat processing industry continues to grow with increasing demand for Australia’s world-class products.
Co-op chief executive, Simon Stahl
“The TAFE NSW training is instrumental in ensuring our employees’ job readiness for working effectively in the industry, which in turn supports economic prosperity for the Northern Rivers region. Because the technology in the industry is rapidly changing, it’s great to see the TAFE NSW course deliver our staff best-practice skills for a successful career in the emerging agribusiness sector.”
TAFE NSW head teacher of meat trades Wayne McGee said the Certificate II could lead to many career opportunities – from traditional roles to new and diverse experiences.
Casino Food Co-op workers getting on the job training with TAFE NSW (Image sourced from Daily Telegraph)
“The meat industry has extensive career pathways including food safety, work health and safety, quality control, livestock and administration, and food production and processing roles,” he said.
The More to Meat campaign is proud to see opportunities to upskill in the meat processing industry, an industry that brings over 138,000 jobs to 300 towns and cities across the country.