Corporate activities

AgriFood Skills Australia coordinates activities of the Industry Skills Council Forum. CEO Arthur Blewitt chairs the ISCs’ bi-monthly meetings and assists with the coordination of cross-ISC strategies for workforce development and development protocols.

Mr Blewitt and AgriFood Board Chairman John Baker work collaboratively with ISCs to develop mechanisms to build capacity to fulfil strengthened roles, including allocation places under the Productivity Places Program.

In these activities, Mr Blewitt engages with other CEOs and Mr Baker chairs meetings of ISC chairmen.
 
Key ISC initiatives 2008-09

 Sustainability in training
 Input to review of the Australian Quality Council through collaborative workshops
 Engagement with DEEWR and Skills Australia at highest levels
 Development of joint training needs analysis tool in conjunction with several ISC’s
 Participation in the ANZCO review
 Development of collective ISC position to report VET Products for 21st Century
 Development of collective ISC position on the position paper, Foundations for the future
 Participation in DEEWR workshop to consider roles and capabilities of ISCs
 Participation in ISC Chairs Forum with Skills Australia
 ISC CEO attendance and presentations at National Quality Council planning day
 Participation in review of Australian Agricultural College Corporation

“The effect of the downturn in the labour market has already started to mobilise much-needed labour for sectors which, until now, have been constrained by chronic labour and skills shortages,” Mr Blewitt said. “During the mining boom many AgriFood enterprises lost workers; the industry suffered a downturn at a time when the economy was buoyant.

“Several industry sectors are well placed to absorb considerable numbers of displaced workers, raise productivity levels and at the same time drive much of the Government’s agenda on sustainability, innovation, biosecurity and innovation.”

CEO Arthur Blewitt

Chief Executive Officer

CEO Arthur Blewitt participated in numerous reviews, collaborative activities and industry events:

 Memorandum of Understanding established with Primary Skills Victoria
 Appearance at House of Representatives Education and Training
 Presentation at Wool Industry Workshop, sponsored by Rural Skills Australia
 Presentation at meeting of University Deans of Agriculture
 Participation in Agricultural Production Working Group
 Presentations to Australian Honeybee Association, Skills and Workforce Participation on the Council of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
 National Irrigation Conference
 Australian Apprenticeship Marketing Conference
 Australian Agriculture Training Providers Network

20 Submissions to Higher Education Review, Sustainability Review, Farmer’s Climate Change Educational Needs Review, Rural and Regional Educational Access Review supported by AgriFood data and analysis

Chairman John Baker

ABARE Outlook Conference 2009

CEO Arthur Blewitt addressed the ABARE Outlook Conference 2009 in Canberra on 4 March 2009. Mr Blewitt said the agrifood industry was in ‘better shape’ than other industries in facing up to the effects of the global economic crisis.

The industry was still employing new workers in agriculture and food production and was building its skills capability to meet a genuine demand for workers. 

“This is a very good time for people looking for a change of lifestyle to an attractive environment to seriously consider getting work in the AgriFood industry,” Mr Blewitt said.

“We are still short of people in areas of agriculture and food production and opportunities are there for people who may be displaced from other industries by the downturn. AgriFood offers a career path for existing workers or for students looking for work in an industry that is less likely at this stage to be as badly affected as other industries.”

“Now we believe new opportunities for jobs are available. Food production will not be cut back and we expect strong growth to continue on food prices, and world population growth continues to rise.”

University of Sydney data show a shortfall of 96,000 people over the next six years in agriculture’s top seven occupations: livestock farmers (will need another 34,000), farm hands (21,000), crop farmers (18,000),mixed crop/livestock farmers (14,000), general mobile plant operators (4,000), bookkeepers (3,000) and shearers (2,000).

Media activities

 In June 2009, AgriFood CEO Arthur Blewitt was invited to take part in an interview on the Viewpoint program on the Australian Public Affairs Channel. The interview was made available on Fox and Austar on Channel 607 and was available on-line from the Australian Public Affairs website.

During the interview, by journalist Laurie Wilson, Mr Blewitt announced the first Regional Jobs Summit at Narrabri, NSW in collaboration with the Northern Inland Regional Development Board.

Mr Blewitt said Australia’s agrifood industry is well placed to facilitate the uptake of displaced workers from other industries into the agriculture, horticulture and food and meat processing industries. AgriFood Skills Australia has initiated and - in partnership with industry, employers, government, training providers, employment agencies and the community - will hold a regional jobs summit to identify jobs for people displaced from jobs.

Viewpoint was broadcast four times. During the interview Mr Blewitt gave a contemporary overview of the industry, its response to the economic downturn and prospects for the future. It was an informed interview that ranged across the state of the agrifood industry.