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VEGNET’S Gld workforce focus
Insuring farm assets webinar: protecting farmers’ fences, fodder and stock
VEGNET Gippsland’s commitment to increase the region’s workforce capability has been in overdrive in 2021, with forums taking place locally to highlight opportunities available. Initially, an in-person forum was held in Sale, while the second event was moved online — now available to watch back, and also summarised as a fact sheet. Forum attendees heard about how VEGNET Gippsland has been working with Food and Fibre Gippsland’s employment program — Connect2Employment — to match up horticultural businesses and trainees, and support school leavers in their new roles. The forum was also used as an opportunity to collaborate with the Victorian Farmers Federation’s ‘Making Our Farms Safer’ project. The VFF’s John Darcy represented the initiative, and he spoke about the important topics of workplace manslaughter and farm safety. Mr Darcy’s presentation reinforced the importance of farm safety for everyone, but particularly business owners, company directors and officers, to which new workplace manslaughter laws now apply. The group also heard about how the VFF can provide free farm safety consults for individual businesses to establish and review their occupational health and safety processes. The forum was an opportunity for Agriculture Victoria to provide an update about the support available to growers in the lead-up to what is expected to be another challenging year for seasonal workforce requirements. Programs specifically available in Gippsland include the RACE program, designed to raise awareness of pursuing a career in agriculture among young Gippslanders by connecting school students and teachers with industry.
IT is difficult to recall what assets are on a farming property following a major disruption to business, whether it’s a fire, flood or storms. It’s impossible to recall everything stored in that now burnt down shed. Agriculture Victoria’s Insuring Farm Assets webinar will discuss the importance of asset inventories, and issues farmers need to consider when i insuring fences, fodder and stock. Adroit Insurance and Risk’s Michael Myers, who has 35 years’ experience in the insurance industry, will provide insights on how to approach insurance, what is needed and what insurance covers in a webinar next week. Topics will include the importance of asset inventories, creating simple and easy asset inventories, how to get farm fence insurance right, how to insure cattle and fodder reserves, what is ‘self-insured’ and what the implications are for business. The free webinar will be held on Tuesday, October 19, from 7.30pm until 8.30pm. Those interested should register by 5pm on Tuesday, October 19, via EventBrite. For more information, phone Agriculture Victoria recovery extension officer Paul Simpson on 0455 750 605, or email paul.simpson@agriculture.vic.gov.au
John Darcy from the Victoria Farmers Federation speaks to forum attendees in Sale about the ‘Making Our Farms Safer’ project. Photo: Bonnie Dawson Food and Fibre Gippsland partners the manager Julie Tuhi gave an overview about program, successfully establishing connections how the program can support growers and job between the program and some of Gippsland’s seekers to find appropriate employment. largest growers, and hosted teachers for profesFor more information or to be put in contact sional development sessions in September. with programs, phone VegNET Gippsland TAFE Gippsland head of rural sciences, regional development officer Bonnie Dawson on forestry and maritime, Bruce Macpherson 0407 683 938 or email bonnie.dawson@foodandfi presented about the traineeships and short bregippsland.com.au. courses that the TAFE can offer industry to the — VegNET Gippsland regional development forum, while Connect2Employment program officer Bonnie Dawson, for AUSVEG
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A WEEK after finishing Year 12 in late 2020, Tilly Gunther was employed as a trainee at Bulmer Farms — one of Australia’s leading baby leaf growers, based in east Gippsland’s Lindenow Valley. Tilly’s leadership and communication skills impressed, and Bulmer Farms’ human resources manager Karen Grant was quick to offer her a traineeship in the quality department. “We are always interested in talented, enthusiastic young people – and we love it when we can offer local school leavers the option to pursue a career in the region,” Ms Grant said. One of the many great things about entering the industry via a traineeship is the trainee gains a strong insight into other areas of the business, while acquiring some valuable, transferrable skills. The traineeship is offered in collaboration with Food and Fibre Gippsland’s Connect2Employment program, supported by the state government’s $619.4 million Jobs
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Page 20 – Times-Spectator, Tuesday, 12 October, 2021
Victoria initiative. During an 18-month tenure, Tilly will learn about every element of the extensive quality systems that ensure the best produce leaves the Lindenow packing shed. While other teenagers might be sleeping in, Tilly is an early starter – she is with the Bulmer Farms’ quality team on site at 5am, ready to test the fresh picked harvest and prepare all the necessary documentation to accompany each dispatch of boxed baby leaf. “I’m finished by 1pm most days, meaning I’ve got the time and space to be able to do what I want for the rest of the day – it’s fantastic,” Tilly said. To support trainees, Connect2Employment can cover the costs of all uniforms, safety gear and work boots, as well as fund external training courses identified by the employer as beneficial for the new employee. The program’s manager, Julie Tuhi, said the program was there to support trainees in many ways. “Saving them money on the workwear necessities is a big thing, and we work hand-in-hand with the employer to keep track of how they’re settling into the workplace,” Ms Tuhi says. “This access to an external mentor is really valuable – it all contributes to maximising their job satisfaction and success, which ultimately leads to the opportunity for long-term employment.” Traineeships are offered in the horticulture industry at various times throughout the year, and can cover a variety of areas, including production, maintenance and growing operations. Gippsland growers who would like to explore traineeship opportunities should email Ms Tuhi
Finishing Year 12 in 2020, Tilly Gunther now begins her days at 5am, after securing a traineeship at Lindenow’s Bulmer Farms. Her role includes testing the freshly-picked harvest and preparing the necessary documentation to accompany each dispatch of boxed baby leaf. Photo: Bonnie Dawson
via julie.tuhi@foodandfibregippsland.com.au or phone 0448 880 824. Tilly is one of 27 workers from four of Gippsland’s largest vegetable growers — Bulmer Farms, Flavorite, Schreurs and Sons, and Hussey and Co — who have been profiled in Food and Fibre Gippsland’s This Is My Job video series.
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