Cross-council approach boosts access to training

RICHMOND-BASED business Harvest Farms has lent its hand to significantly improving the quality of agriculture training in the region.

The Clarence City Council business loaned one of its new GPS-enabled Massey Ferguson tractors to the South East Trade Training Centre in Sorell for use by Certificate II Agriculture students.

This cross-council relationship was made possible largely by a project of the South East Regional Development Association (SERDA).

SERDA is an association of the Clarence, Sorell, Tasman and Glamorgan Spring Bay councils.

The project’s aim is to strengthen the region through the attraction and retention of skilled labour and improve the level of skills and qualifications across the workforce.

With the south-east region experiencing growth beyond Tasmanian averages, the SERDA project seeks to match employer requirements with targeted training to enable the regional workforce to be job ready as employment opportunities materialise.

Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman said this collaborative effort was another important example of council and industry working together to provide real job opportunities for the region.

“It is fantastic to see a successful Clarence business connecting with local students, and by taking a regional approach, we will help strengthen the wider south-east community,” he said.

Caption: From left, Agriculture teacher Bill Shoobridge, Sorell Mayor Kerry Vincent, Clarence Mayor Doug Chipman, SETTC coordinator Rick Birch, Harvest Farms general manager Lawrence Cowley, SERDA representative Andrew Hyatt, Agco representative Chris Tait and farm foreman Mathew Lacey.