Uptake of training and animal health and welfare practices

Summary

Having skilled participants across the livestock export supply chain is pivotal in maintaining animal health and welfare. It also supports supply chain productivity and ongoing industry sustainability.

Training is currently provided in many forms, including as part of the LiveCorp Shipboard Stockperson Accreditation Program, through the Livestock Export Program’s (LEP) in-market activities, or provided directly by livestock exporters. The training is often designed to support compliance with the Australian Standards for the Export of Livestock (ASEL) and Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) or is quite specific and tailored to address a particular issue or activity.

This project will develop a ‘whole of industry’ strategy, developing a practical and effective pathway to support the uptake of training in best practice animal health and welfare management across the supply chain and ensure there is continual improvement in the knowledge and capability of individuals working across the industry.

Objectives

The objectives of this project are to:

• Identify the critical animal health and welfare risks or opportunities along the livestock export supply chain that could be mitigated or improved through the provision of training or competency development
• Identify the drivers of engagement for individuals throughout the supply chain to participate in training
• Provide recommendations for the development of a structured training framework and implementation plan.

The project will be conducted using a HACCP risk assessment model and focus on service design methodology.

Benefits to industry

A structured training framework for the livestock export industry will reduce the duplication of costs for compliance in training individuals, provide access to more skilled workers, and increase the widespread use of best practices in livestock handling and management.