It is an recognise fact that all glasshouse output businesses identify a high premium on acquiring and/or keep on staff with the skills of professional direction practice . Across industry however , there are many businesses reporting a lack of available Labor both skilled and incompetent .
by Tony Filippi , NGIA Biosecurity Certification Officer
Given these shortages , it was reassuring to see that the Sunraysia Institute of TAFE ( SuniTAFE ) situated in Mildura Victoria has get implementing manufacture accredited programs taking a novel approach to encourage involution in grooming .
in the beginning in January this year , SuniTAFE commenced a refurbishment of their farm nursery greenhouse which included forward-looking smart technology funded by the Regional and Specialist Training Fund ( RSTF ) curriculum . This program is a funding stream initiative designed to gather target regional industry and specific community training needs across Victoria .
To cater for this , one such requirement for innovative technology identify by Michelle Lindhout ( Teacher - Primary Industries ) at SuniTAFE , was to ensure the glasshouse industry accreditation program of Best Management Practices ( Nursery Industry Accreditation Scheme Australia , NIASA ) , Environmental Management ( EcoHort ) and the industry Plant Health Assurance System ( BioSecure HACCP ) were part of this program . These programs have been in cognitive process with the industry for a number of age however few registered training organizations are recognize or recognise what these programs can render .
Why are you implementing the accreditation program , and what event do you look for the pupil and industry?“To present best practice and provide industry knowingness to students & to cater a quickness for local nursery to habituate as a physical resource that exhibit how they too can implement the necessity of the nursery accreditation schemes . In play , this will beef up the local nursery sector and knowledge can be carry to any other part that student or businesses may move to in the future as it is a national program . "
How will the accredited programs cater for this?“The nursery site upgrade and industry accreditation programs are the start for SuniTAFE ’s newest venture which is to reformulate their 30 ha farm to a training facility showcasing a reach of horticultural crops and rivet on ‘ Smart Technologies ’ . The SuniTAFE Farm will provide institution , industry relevance , and produce the next generation of the horticultural workforce train with the skills to lead us into the future . "
How will you apply the nursery accredit broadcast with the curriculum?“The whole selection in Certificate III Production Nursery is very well put together and provides broad opportunity to incorporate the accreditation banner let in hygiene and biosecurity . By adopting the accreditation programme , it allows students to have a full insight into line operations admit the use of insurance , procedures and thorough monitoring and improvement practices relating to nursery operations . "
What type of scholar do you cater for?“The SuniTAFE Farm caters for a range of students . Whilst the initial focus will be for full clock time pupil undertaking Cert III and Diploma of Horticulture admit domesticated and outside student , substituted training will be admit for workplace prentice within the Nursery diligence , and providing a al-Qaida to host industry workshops . "
Which horticultural current are you focusing on?“Whilst one focus is to expand training in Production Nursery , the raise to the nursery facility and adopting the accreditation program will tone up the awareness of beneficial recitation to our current student and provide a support internet to partake in knowledge with local raiser . The glasshouse facility is a great presentation tool within our other Horticulture sectors as well admit our big scholarly person cohort ‘ Production Horticulture ’ . The facility lay an model of how a holistic farm approach can improve line operations . It also demonstrates to students and raiser how plants are initially produced and how they can reduce their farm hazard by choosing accredited nurseries when purchasing . There are a mint of principles that bilk over between horticultural streams and the nursery facility provides a valuable strong-arm imagination to utilise in training . "
Do these course of study converge the skilled lying-in shortfall for industry training?“SuniTAFE has made it a focus to engage with industry , create strong diligence partnership to empathize current diligence practices and training requirements , and tailoring grooming to individual businesses .
" Most businesses are requesting more effective pattern and competent staff with underpinning noesis to give rise an end ware that meets market requirements . allow for the occupation and students are assailable to improvement and adopting best practice the accreditation programs do just that . "
The first stage of follow through the accredited programs was impart an initial third - party audit for the NIASA certification held at the Cardross Farm nursery preparation site at the terminal of July .
Instead of convey the audited account checklist with only the business proprietor for conformity of the site , current students learn the Certificate Ⅲ in Horticulture ( which contains a nursery stream ) were also include . It was an opportunity to fork over a presentation with an in - stratum activity followed by a term of enlistment of the glasshouse . This start the scholarly person to better understand the hard-nosed program of NIASA step by stone’s throw within the yield adeptness .
It is envisage that SuniTAFE will within the next 12 months become to the full certified in all three programs include EcoHort and BioSecure HACCP . By taking this approach it provides a footpath of how to successfully follow out these programs .
The implementation of these programs has been supported through the levy fund project NY15004 Horticulture Australia and NGIA manufacture undertaking NY15004 National Nursery Industry Biosecurity Program where businesses are endorse to take the BioSecure HACCP curriculum .
For anyone interested in finding out more about the accreditation programs and how they could benefit your line link NGIA[email protected]or more information can be establish on the Nursery Production Farm Management System websitehttp://nurseryproductionfms.com.au
