CONTENTS

Capacity and Capability Development

Outcome:  A motivated and skilled dairy industry

Project Activities and Achievements:

• Dairy Industry Round Table
  May Adelaide
  
  The Dairy industry round table was held in Adelaide in May 2005?.  The purpose of the meeting was to help get an understanding of what training resources South Australia currently has available and how to get better synergy across the all of the training bodies.  There were representatives from Dairy SA, SA Dairy Association, Food SA, TAFE SA, DFEEST, PIRSA, Primary Industry Skills Council and the Skills Advisory Group.  The group all actively agreed to be involved in the training needs analysis for the dairy industry.
  
  
• Training Needs Analysis Document
  Amy Williams, Rural Solutions SA  Appendix 23
  
  The training needs required for the South Australian Dairy industry both now and in the future have been documented in this paper.  The paper identifies the different sectors within the industry that require training, the needs of each of these sectors, what is currently available and therefore where the gaps are.  The training areas have been sorted according to their priority and can therefore be used as a guide for targeting training plans.  The needs analysis also identifies that coordination and promotion of training and accreditation and assessment of training are two areas that need further consideration for ensuring a motivated and skilled work force.  The training needs analysis and the long term plans are available on the SA dairy industry website.
  
  
• Participation in Leadership Programs
  South Australian Dairy Farmers and Industry People
    
  Training available for industry leaders / farmer representatives includes:
  
• The SA Rural Leadership Program – covering general rural leadership skills, including media skills and networking
• Lead On Dairy, Advance In Dairy and Deliver For Dairy – covering dairy specific leadership skills and knowledge
• Courses run by the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Australian Institute of Management – including Company Directors Courses; Directors Essentials courses
• 7 Habits of Highly Effective People training

The ADP project has been actively involved in promoting this leadership program, through media, specifically targeted suitable candidates and through the information being available on the SA dairy industry website.  Nine South Australians have taken part in the national AdvanceIn Dairy Leadership Development Program and one South Australian has taken part in the Lead On Dairy program which was offered at a state level in Victoria (but not in South Australia). Four of these participants currently have extension roles in the South Australian dairy industry and most sit on industry (or other) Boards or Committees. In a ‘graduate-mapping’ evaluation, a number of past participants in these programs were found to be looking for opportunities to be further involved in the industry.

• National Centre for Dairy Education Australia
  SA Sub Committee  
  
  The National Centre for Dairy Education Australia is a partnership between Dairy Australia and GO TAFE.  It provides delivery of dairy training across Vic and is now looking to do it in other states. The ADP project has been involved in the SA sub committee to explore/progress NCDEA transition into South Australia.  The training needs document sited above has been used as a key document for training development within the state.  This new proposal is an exciting way forward for development of training within SA.
  
   
• Coordinating Dairy Training within the State
  Amy Williams, Rural Solutions SA
  
  The ADP Project funded Amy Williams to operate in the role of a State wide dairy training register and coordinator.  This register and coordinator role encompassed all dairy registered training courses available in South Australia, including TAFE, Dairy SA, SA Dairy network, Dairy Australia national programs and private providers.  The role was identified in both the training needs analysis and by the SADA Human resources committee as being crucial for the development of capacity and capability of the South Australian dairy industry.   
  
  The role involved:

- Coordinating a ‘One Stop Shop’ for all courses and training needs on the ADP’s Dairy Industry website
- Compiling a list of all courses and training available
- Maintaining a list of all interested participants for courses
- Providing the list of interested parties to training providers
- Actively pursuing participants for courses and training
- Promoting courses throughout the industry

This important and on going role will be continued on through Dairy SA and the NCDEA Sub committee.

• Supporting Priority Training
  Succession Planning Workshops   
  
  More than 50 dairy farmers attended two interactive succession planning workshops at Mount Gambier and Murray Bridge in April 2006. Coordinated through the State Dairy Plan project, the workshops included nationally renowned communications specialist Lyn Sykes who discussed business structures for family farms, as well as succession planning details, processes and communication tips. Other presenters included incredibly talented lawyer Chris Winnall, and accountants John Miles (Mount Gambier) and Shane Teakle (Murray Bridge).  The workshops proved to be a great success.

HR Template Development
Human resources management has been identified as a major priority area for training with in the state.  Funds have been provided to help develop the HR toolkit developed by Dexcel in New Zealand to an Australian based version.  The toolkit offers a collection of material developed from current practices in staff management that have particular relevance to Australian dairy farmers.  Dairy farmers will find that following the processes outlined in this Toolkit will lead to easier staff management, successful employment relationship outcomes and improved profitability. It is anticipated that the use of these tools will contribute to helping the dairy industry become employers of choice and raise our competitive advantage for quality staff in a tight labour market.  The funds are being pooled with other industry funds and the South Australian version of the toolkit will be extended to the industry later in the year.

Farm Economic Performance and Benchmarking Workshops
Red Sky
Two workshops are to be held in July 2006, one in the Murraylands and one in the South East run by RedSky.  The workshops will be focusing on farm economic performance and bench marking as a result of the Economic Analysis project (part of strategy 3).  The 40 South Australia dairy farms that have provided their farm financial data will be invited to attend along with other farmers and industry people from the region.  The seminar will look at the key factors that distinguish the top farmers from their peers, and discuss the key profit drivers in pasture-based dairying.  These seminars will provide farmers an opportunity to understand the Red Sky reports on their business in more detail.

Financial Analysis