A survey was distributed in the Department of Agriculture’s Pig Tales newsletter in December 2003 and direct mailed to the 30 largest producers during the following January. While only fourteen surveys were returned, the responses represented a large portion of the industry.

Below is a summary of the results:

79% of respondents or their staff had participated in some form of management level training.

Courses/training organisations included:

• Certificate II Pig Husbandry Course (WAPPA)
• Certificate III Stockperson Training Course (PITWA)
• Certificate IV Workplace Assessment & Training (Chris Barnett & Associates)
• Quality Assurance (Department of Agriculture/John Noonan)
• OHS Systems for Pork Producers (PITWA)
• Business planning (Portec)
• Management course (AIM/coordinated by Barb Frey)
• General management issues (Department of Agriculture, WAPPA, eastern states seminars)
• Management course (unspecified)
• Teaching courses
• People management (Royal Australian Navy).

Of the 79% who (or their staff) had participated in management level training, 73% would use the same course and/or training organisation again.

Reasons for deciding to attend/send staff to training courses:
79% suggested for personal/staff development.
36% suggested for personal/staff reward.
93% suggested for improving production/business.
50% suggested for interacting with other producers.

Reasons which prohibit producers from attending/sending staff to training courses:
21% suggested inappropriate courses/subjects.
14% suggested difficult to find/not advertised widely.
21% suggested affordability.
50% suggested inappropriate timing.
79% suggested availability of staff/workload.

The following percentage of producers would look in the following media for upcoming courses:
86% suggested Department of Agriculture publications – Pig Tales, Pork Talk.
79% suggested WAPPA publications – Pork Yarns.
0% suggested Internet.
29% suggested Word of mouth/other producers.

The following percentage of producers would be interested in participating in or sending staff to coursers in the following areas:
50% financial management/cost of production.
50% analysing performance.
21% marketing.
57% managing staff/people skills.
50% negotiation/conflict resolution.
57% time management.
36% employment.
57% OHS.
29% environmental planning.
57% of respondents claim to be aware of the content and target audience of a nationally accredited Certificate IV in Pig Production.

If there was a structured training program which could help improve producers’ and/or their staff’s management skills and help achieve a Certificate IV in Pig Production, 71% of respondents are likely to participate or have their staff participate in such a course.

Other comments from respondents included:

• Don’t employ staff (family business).
• Most of the topics listed are discussed in Wandalup group meetings.
• Courses need to better accommodate grow-out vs breeder units.
• We use private consultants for training as it fits our work schedules better and we get exactly what we want, when we want it.
• Staff training is critical to our business.

These responses confirm Pork Industry Training (WA)’s belief that there is a genuine need for a Certificate IV/management level training course to follow on from the Certificate III Stockperson Training Course.

Work has begun on developing such a course which is likely to run over eighteen months to two years. Off-the-job sessions would be delivered every 3-4 months and participants would gain experience through undertaking a management role in their workplace.