FFTITC's Nimble News 5 August 2026
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
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H5 Bird Flu (Avian Influenza): What Western Australians Need to Know
A quick guide for Western Australians and the food, fibre and timber industries.
Following the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in wild birds in Australia, governments and industry have increased surveillance and preparedness activities. While the risk to people remains low and there have been no detections in Australian commercial poultry or livestock, H5N1 has important implications for wildlife, agriculture and Australia's biosecurity.
FFTITC was pleased to see our Industry Consultant, Diane Smith’s article in a recent Vegetables WA blog. The article highlights four key agricultural occupations: Agriculture Worker, Precision Ag Operator, Ag Tech Specialist, and Agronomist.
Have your say: Agricultural Trade Apprenticeship Qualification
There are still opportunities to have your say on the draft Agricultural Trade Apprenticeship Qualification. Skills Insight and FFTITC are visiting 3 local Wheatbelt towns:
Narrogin Tuesday 11 August, 11am – 1pm
Cunderdin, Wednesday 12 August, 11am – 1pm
Morawa Thursday 13 August, 11am – 1pm
To register, please click here.
OTHER NEWS AND INFORMATION
The Cook Labor Government has allocated more than $2 million through the TAFE Modern Equipment Program for new equipment for South Metropolitan TAFE to train students in priority occupations.
Based on the most recent ABS Labour Force Survey, the June BCEC Monthly Labour Market Update provides important insights into the changing conditions across state and territory labour markets.
STA is undertaking research to ensure that the industry has access to training that is practical, relevant and delivers real value for employers and learners. Feedback will help them understand what industry needs.
Forestry Australia is now calling for nominations for two Directors. This is an exciting opportunity for dedicated individuals to contribute to the strategic direction and governance of the association
Forestry Australia's Forestry Scholarship Fund and the Australian Forest and Wood Innovations Centre for Climate-Smart Forestry (AFWI CCSF) are pleased to offer scholarship opportunities to support early-career professionals and Indigenous Australians to attend Forestry Australia’s 2026 Symposium in Canberra.
ASA offer free school engagement sessions to help students understand the world of vocational education and training (VET), including school-based apprenticeships and traineeships. These sessions are designed to open students' eyes to career opportunities and provide clear steps to get started.
The resources include a range of teacher support materials, providing background information, lesson instructions and classroom support materials. Through hands-on activities, discussion opportunities and engaging visual content, students develop an understanding of the Australian pork industry.
AI use is increasing across VET providers’ operations, training delivery and assessment practices. This guidance supports providers to use AI responsibly, safely and effectively, in ways that align with their obligations under the 2025 Standards for RTOs.
Skills Insight and MINTRAC will review and revise Certificate III meat processing qualifications covering areas such as boning, slaughtering, livestock handling, food services and packing, the project will update training products to better reflect current industry needs, technologies and training package requirements.
Designed specifically for livestock advisors, this session will explore real-world applications of AI that can help you save time, improve productivity, create better client resources and streamline everyday tasks.
The latest NCVER data demonstrates the continued strength of vocational pathways in supporting student engagement, school completion and workforce readiness.
Where is VET activity changing? Patterns vary across qualifications, training areas and delivery types. Some areas experienced declines, while growth continues in higher-level study and shorter training activity, and, demand varies across qualifications and training areas
Covering a range of business topics, SBDC’s practical workshops are packed with key information and useful hints and tips.
Fee-free TAFE has been promoted as one of the Albanese government’s key education policies to train more nurses and builders. But new course completion figures released last week have sparked debate among industry leaders about whether the policy is working.
Great Article from the Countryman – Trading wool harvesting for cropping
Shearing shed staff faced with off-season working conditions are now filling the gap through an initiative that provides training in the crop harvesting sector to satisfy steady employment between shearing runs. Click below to download PDF (check your download directory)
We hope this information has been useful to you. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out!
Food, Fibre and Timber Industries Training Council
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