PRIOR to the COVID-19 pandemic, Poultry Hub’s Job Ready Training initiative was progressing at a great pace, matching unemployed youth with available positions in the poultry industry.
One of the successful new employees was Courtney. After being let go from her mechanic apprenticeship, Courtney returned to northwest NSW to be with family. Her job agency referred her to Poultry Hub Job Ready Training, where she completed the four-day training at the University of New England’s Tamworth Study Centre.
Courtney demonstrated a clear motivation for learning, great communications skills and was engaged throughout the entire course. Poultry Hub’s education officer Bruce realised quickly that she would be an asset to the poultry industry. Bruce then assisted to obtain an interview for Courtney with one of the local recruitment agencies.
She was offered some work experience, which she enjoyed and impressed the farm manager enough to be offered a position on the egg farm. In one of their regular catch-ups, Courtney told Bruce she loved the work. The tasks Courtney has been undertaking include collecting and packing eggs and checking on the welfare of chickens.
Courtney has said her favourite duty was undoubtedly walking through the sheds and checking on the birds. “I wouldn’t be working on a farm if it wasn’t for the Poultry Hub Job Ready Training,” Courtney said. “Registration, attending the fun and informative training days and then talking with the recruitment agencies have been so easy.”
Courtney has been employed for a couple of months and told us she is “still loving it.” “Knowing I have the support of Bruce who checks in with me consistently has reassured me that I’m in a good position, and one that I see myself doing for a while,” she said. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we have had to pause the hands-on training, however we are using this opportunity to develop an online version, which we are hoping to roll out nationwide.
If you are in the poultry industry and have positions available, or if you would like to start a career in the poultry industry, we strongly encourage you to contact us at poultryhub@une.edu.au
You will be added to our mailing list and notified when our online training course is available and being delivered.
For more details, please contact us at poultryhub@une.edu.au