Shearing Shed Staff Prepare For Harvest Work Between Runs

Shearing workers gain harvest skills to stay local

Shearing shed staff across regional Australia have started harvest training through the Beyond the Shed program, helping workers secure seasonal employment between shearing runs while supporting local farmers during the upcoming harvest season.

The first round of harvest-focused training delivered by 2 Working in Oz will help shed staff get the skills to take on harvest-related roles in their local communities, reducing the need to travel long distances in search of work and helping regional employers access skilled local labour.

Beyond the Shed was developed by the WA Shearing Industry Association to support shearing team staff with training to take on other seasonal employment opportunities between shearing work. Participants are trained for a range of jobs on farms, in towns, and across regional contracting businesses, enabling them to remain in their communities year-round.

The program is already demonstrating strong results, with over 110 people completing courses to date. Participants have undertaken qualifications and skills development in areas including fencing, traffic management, seeding operations, and machinery operations such as excavator operation.

Many have already completed seeding training, building confidence and successfully operating seasonal gear.

Wool classer Judy Huri said the course had given her confidence to step outside her usual role and build new skills.

"The course has been great, very thorough and the teacher has been amazing," Ms Huri said.

"I even surprised myself with how confident I feel operating the tractor after only 12 hours.

"There are so many opportunities to learn different skills and fill the gaps between shearing seasons. The industry has been very erratic in Western Australia over the past two years.

"When you open new doors like this, you learn different things about your community and about yourself."

Twenty-three-year-old presser Will Henderson from Dongra, whose first gig in the shearing sheds was at 15 and hopes to become a shearer, said the training was helping him build skills that would create more opportunities throughout the year.

"I came along to the course because I felt like I needed more tickets and wanted a bit more variety and work around the shearing sheds," Mr Henderson said.

"The course has been really good and I've learnt a lot. After doing this first course I feel much more confident about working in harvesting, and it's encouraged me to keep getting more tickets and doing more courses."

He says that opportunities for other skills and work for learner shearers is important, “It is a bit more competitive to get a stand at the moment because of less sheep, so the chance to work on farms and do other seasonal jobs is good so we gain skills in other areas while also working towards getting a stand”.

Farmers are encouraged to contact their local shearing contractors involved in the program and consider employing trained local workers to meet labour requirements during harvest, or for other seasonal work.

By supporting local workers to gain different skills, Beyond the Shed is helping strengthen regional communities while providing farmers with access to a dependable and trained local workforce.