Since the launch of the Queensland Agriculture Workforce Network (QAWN) in February 2016 the seven regional officers have established themselves as key contacts for information about agriculture employment and training, with over 3,600 interactions logged. These interactions have led to over 156 positive employment outcomes and over 152 people linked to training.
Funded by the Queensland Government until March 2018, QAWN is an industry-led initiative that aims to optimize the Queensland agriculture industry’s capacity to attract and upskill its workforce. For a snapshot of some of QAWN’s achievements and key initiatives see the full report HERE.
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS Workshops proving to be of genuine benefit
Feedback from the QAWN Workplace Essential Workshops has indicated that farm businesses are gaining a much clearer understanding of where the gaps are in their human resources policies and practices. 97 per cent of survey respondents say that they will be implementing workplace management improvements as a result of what they had learnt.
The Queensland Government has funded QAWN to host a series of industrial relations workshops is helping agricultural businesses establish positive workforce management practices and better understand their legal obligations under the Fair Work Act. Facilitated by Growcom, the free half-day Workplace Essentials workshops are being held in major agricultural regions with agriculture industrial relations specialist Donna Mogg.
The workshops include a practical risk assessment activity, industrial relations updates and advice to help farmers better manage their employment obligations. Growcom worked collaboratively with Fair Work and various agriculture sectors to develop the resources, which include useful links to Fair Work and industry best management practice (BMP) information. The workshops also include information about employment options such as the Seasonal Worker Program, employment and wage incentives and the assistance that QAWN officers can provide.
Attendees rated the opportunity to complete a risk assessment to identify gaps in their human resources policies and practices as being highly beneficial. Some of the improvements that participants said that they will be implementing as a result of what they had learnt include labour hire agreements; updating policies, procedures, inductions and training resources; and developing processes to address staff conflicts, poor performance and terminations.
QAWN Workplace Essentials 2017 workshops:
- Mackay – Wednesday 8 February
- Yeppoon – Tuesday 14 February
- Emerald – Wednesday 15 February
- St George Wednesday 1 March
- Kingaroy – Wednesday 15 March
- More workshops TBA.
Agribusinesses in all agriculture sectors are encouraged to attend by registering at (membership not required) https://www.growcom.com.au/wes/