Why a deal has been signed between NZ and Australia for shearers

The Australian shearing industry is hoping a new agreement with New Zealand will lift the number of shearers available to the industry.

The Australian shearing industry is hoping a new agreement with New Zealand will lift the number of shearers available to the industry on both sides of the Tasman.

A memorandum of understanding with the goal of appropriate training in both Australia and New Zealand has drawn together three key organisations to address the global shortage of shears and wool handlers.

SCAA Wool Handler Training Inc is Australia’s largest industry trainer and chief executive officer Glenn Haynes said the MOU could mitigate and even solve some of the training issues seen in both Australia and New Zealand.

“The agreement is not a silver bullet for the issue of skills shortages,” Mr Haynes said.

“This agreement will allow for the training organisations to work together on shearing and wool handler training consistencies, across the Tasman.”

Sone of the concerns around shearer training was about the slightly different methods used in each country.

“It will help ensure that when young kiwis come to Australia to shear, their shearing pattern and technique will be consistent and align with what the Australia market requires,” Mr Haynes said.

“Conversely, it will also ensure that young Australians travelling to New Zealand will have a better understanding of the New Zealand crossbred shearing techniques as will the wool handlers.

“The transient nature of the workforce is leading to an ever-increasing numbers of shearers and wool handlers travelling across both sides of the ditch for work experience and training organisations need to be prepared for this.”

Mr Haynes said ” with the level and experience of the trainers involved in the combined organisations, the knowledge that can be shared from both sides can only be beneficial for the industry”.

The MOU also includes the New Zealand-based Elite Wool Industry Training NZ as well as Australian Wool Innovation.

AWI’s head of shearer training, Craig French said he saw benefits from working with the industry’s NZ counterparts.

“The shearer and wool handler shortage is an international problem and therefore we need to take a broader approach to addressing it,” Mr French said.

“ Over the next three years, Australian wool growers will invest more than $10 million into shearer and wool handler training.

“We are best to have an agreement with our trans-Tasman counterparts, to ensure this investment is not one-sided and in sync with what is happening in New Zealand and this MOU will allow this process to happen more easily.”

Shearing Contractors Association secretary Jason Letchford said there were benefits from facilitating the transition of learner shearers and wool handlers between Australia and New Zealand.

“This will help to accommodate the seasonal cycles and better ensure consistency of work for new entrants to the industry, an issue that has been the Achilles-Heel for learner shearers in the past,” he said.