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An agricultural workforce plan for Tasmania’s north west

The North West Agricultural Workforce Plan sets the framework to develop a valued and highly skilled agriculture workforce in the north west region of Tasmania.

Agriculture is a significant contributor to the Tasmanian economy at $2.4 billion annually. While the sector has undergone a significant technological evolution over the past couple of decades, resulting in a very different profile of skills needed for workers and careers available, there is still a need for skilled employees in the sector.

The North West Agricultural Workforce Plan is an initiative from Skills Tasmania and one output from the ‘Northwest Tasmanian Job Ready Generation Package’. The Plan was developed to inform industry, governments, education and training providers on what actions need to be taken, and by whom, to support the growth of a highly skilled and highly valued agriculture workforce in the north west region of Tasmania.

In 2020, our RMCG Tasmania consultants conducted an in-depth survey with 110 businesses in all agricultural industries in north west Tasmania to gain a better understanding of employment opportunities, how they may be changing and what skills may be required for employees in the future within the region. Our team mapped these needs against training services and options, and recommended how to address the gaps using both strategic and tactical recommendations.

This process has allowed the agriculture industry in Tasmania’s north west to:

  • Inform current and future job seekers on the employment and career opportunities in the agricultural sector
  • Identify the skill and knowledge requirements of those opportunities.

For more information and to read the key findings from the project, see our final report.

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What industry, government, and education and training providers can do to support the growth of a highly valued agricultural workforce in the north west region of Tasmania.

Team

Dr Doris Blaesing

Dr Doris Blaesing

Associate

Dipl.Ing.Agr., Dr.rer.hort.

Doris has extensive experience in agricultural business development, resource management and R&D. She has a good understanding of agricultural production systems and supply chains. Her strengths are strategy and concept development, innovative thinking, problem solving, multi-disciplinary project management and communication on all levels with a broad range of people. Doris worked in public and private research, education, export and agribusinesses.

Donna Lucas

Donna Lucas

Principal

B.App.Sci. (Hons)

Donna is an agricultural consultant with experience in business management, research and extension. She is adaptable with an ability to contribute to projects at a strategic level.
Donna has specialist knowledge in workforce development and planning, resource recovery, carbon farming, greenhouse gas/carbon accounting and project evaluation. Her strengths include driving execution, building connections and problem solving.

Michael Tempest

Michael Tempest

Senior Consultant

B Env

Michael is involved with projects relating to land use planning and environmental assessment and monitoring, including effluent reuse. He is also an Accredited Bushfire Hazard Practitioner.

Sally Scrivens

Sally Scrivens

Consultant

BSc (Hons)

Sally has a background in ecology with extensive field experience. She specialises in natural values assessments and has experience in water resources and land use planning.

Astrid Ketelaar

Astrid Ketelaar

Associate

B. Land Man.

Astrid has been a natural resource management service provider since 1999, specialising in irrigation water resources and land use planning, and oversees all the services the Launceston team provides. Astrid has a background as a Technical Forester and over 25 years’ experience in land and water resources management.