See also the Frequently Asked Questions on the main MINTRAC website.

Trainees

1. How do I become a trainee?
2. What benefit will a qualification be to my future?
3. How do I become a Meat Inspector or a QA Officer?
4. What do I do if there is a problem with my training?
5. What do I do if I have a problem with other workers?
6. What happens when I complete my traineeship?

1. Why should I employ trainees?
2. Why are the company’s trainees not completing their traineeships?
3. Do I have to continue to employ a trainee after their traineeship is complete?
4. What qualifications are available as traineeships in meat industry?
5. How do I choose an RTO?
6. Can training materials be customised or adapted?

To undertake a traineeship you need to become employed by a company that employs trainees. Many abattoirs have a policy of signing any new employee to a traineeship within the first three months of employment. To become a meat industry employee you may want to check job advertisements in local/regional/daily newspapers, or check the local yellow pages and contact employers, send a CV or resume to them and follow up by phone or in person.

A traineeship is a great way to start off your career. You have an opportunity to earn while you learn. It is possible to work in the industry without becoming a trainee, but trainees often have a better understanding of why they do what they do and how the industry operates. If you wanted to change companies, employers would look favourably on someone who has already had previous training. A qualification will add to your resume and give you an edge in the employment market.

Depending on the type of employment, Meat Inspectors are required to complete the Certificate III Meat Processing (Meat Safety) or the Certificate IV Meat Processing (Meat Safety). QA Officers usually require a Certificate III Meat Processing (General) or Certificate IV Meat Processing (Quality Assurance). Study to become a Meat Inspector or QA Officer requires enrolment with a Registered Training Organisation which has the Meat Safety or Quality Assurance qualifications listed on its scope of delivery.

To find out more it is a good idea to talk to a Meat Inspector or a QA Officer in your plant and find out how they got to where they are today. Or you can talk to your Trainer or Human Resource Manager.

4. What do I do if there is a problem with my training?

You should talk to your Supervisor or Human Resource manager first, or talk to anyone in a position of authority who you feel comfortable discussing problems with. It would also be a good idea to put in writing any concerns you have with your training, so that there is a record.
If nothing is done or the situation is not handled how you would like it to be you may need to go to someone higher in your organisation.

5. What do I do if I have a problem with other workers?

It is sometimes the case that other workers are hostile to trainees and they may think you are not working fast enough or keeping up. They may resent that you are taken off the floor for training sessions, or think you are lazy because you do not work as fast as them, and may act in a way that makes your time at work difficult.
This is NOT acceptable behaviour, even if the person is in a higher position than you they have no right to make you feel intimidated or uncomfortable. Your employer has a legal responsibility to make sure your workplace is free from bullying and harassment.
If you do have problems with other workers the following strategies might help.

• Ignore them, it might be a one-off incident. But don’t ignore the situation if you think it is serious, e.g., someone threatening to harm you.
• If the behaviour continues ask them exactly what the problem is. If it is because you are too slow, or being ‘lazy’, remind the worker that they were new employees once too, and that it will take some time before you are able to keep up as well as them.
• If you are not comfortable working with them, speak to your Supervisor and ask to be moved to another area.
• Report all instances of bullying or harassment. Your employer may not know it is going on until you tell them about it. They will appreciate you making them aware of the problem. You can report incidents to:
• your immediate supervisor
• a mentor or buddy
• Human Resource Manager
• Safety Manager
• Production/Operations Manager
• Plant Manager
• anyone you feel comfortable talking to.

6. What happens when I complete my traineeship?

At the end of your traineeship you will receive a certificate from the Registered Training Organisation which shows you have met all the requirements for that qualification. You will then be able to include this certificate in your resume. If there are positions available your employer may ask you to stay on in the organisation (this is usually the case), or you can approach other companies and look for employment elsewhere.

If you think you have met all the requirements and do not have your certificate you should approach your Trainer or Human Resource Manager.

A trained workforce is an asset to any organisation. Competitors can copy your company’s technology and processes, but unless human cloning becomes possible they cannot copy your workforce!

Investing in training shows the organisation cares about its employees. External regulators and auditors are increasingly looking for evidence of employee training during audits. A company’s training program and records of training can even be used as a defence if a company is subject to prosecution, e.g., over an OH&S incident.

Training means that employees have an idea of where they fit into the company and where the company fits in the industry. This may mean employees are more committed, have a better understanding of hygiene and sanitation, are safer, and more productive.

There are government incentives for employing trainees, these are different in each state. For more information regarding incentives you should visit the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations website.

Recent research conducted into Meat Industry traineeships has suggested that trainees may not complete for a variety of reasons. Trainees leave because the job may not have been what they expected, they weren’t suited to the work, or they found employment elsewhere. These factors are usually out of the company’s control.
However, of the trainees researched many felt that trainees were leaving because they were expected to do too much too soon, and felt that they hadn’t been given much time to adjust. Trainees’ also felt that other workers sometimes made life difficult for them and even intimidated them, making them more inclined to leave. These factors are controllable. See ‘Strategies for better supporting trainees’ for ideas on how to reduce these problems.

No, a company does not have to offer employment to trainees once their traineeship is complete, however, it is usually the case that the trainee stays on in the organisation. Not many companies want to invest time and money into training their workers to have them leave and go to another company.

The Australian Apprenticeships Training Information Service website will direct you to a table showing all the available traineeships in the industry.

Things to consider when selecting an RTO include:

• location of the RTO – are they close by? Will they be able to regularly visit the plant?
• credentials – Are they registered and nationally recognised?
• experience - have they trained in the industry before? Do they have industry-experienced Trainers?
• support – will they provide ongoing support for your company and staff?

See also www.training.com.au for more information. 

Yes. Customisation of training materials is encouraged. This makes the training relevant to the individual company or workplace. Materials should be customised and edited to take into account Standard Operating Practices, Work Instructions, State regulations and anything else that should be taken into account by the RTO.