Welcome to our first edition of Nimble News for 2026 - 7 January 2026
- fftitc
- 12 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Happy New Year!! We are back and looking forward to a busy and fruitful 2026!
Our vision (and always will be) is for our industries to have a workforce development environment that encourages growth and innovation for today and for the future!
We already have a plan of activities for 2026 to help us towards our vision.
Our priorities are to:
Strengthen Industry Networks
Research and Advocate on Workforce Issues
Provide Quality Industry Intelligence to the WA Government
Identify and facilitate Innovative Training Pathways
Build Knowledge and Capacity in Workforce Development
Promote Training and Career Opportunities
If you want to get involved and are not already a member of our Skills Advisory Network Groups – please join us and help us to make a difference to your industry. We love working with passionate industry advocates!
Our network provides an opportunity for industries to influence decision making at the highest level of government on matters of training and workforce development.
Our Skills Advisory Networks are:
AgriHort (agriculture & production horticulture)
Animal Care (veterinary services; animal behaviour; wildlife; pet and companion animal services)
Forestry (forest management and harvesting; timber wood processing and building solutions; pulp, paper, packaging and hygiene)
Green Skills (ecosystem management, conservation, amenity horticulture including turf, irrigation, nursery, arboriculture, landscaping, conservation, parks & gardens)
Meat and Seafood (meat, poultry and seafood processing/manufacturing; aquaculture and wild catch; fisheries compliance)
Manufactured Textiles and Fashion (clothing and footwear, laundry and dry cleaning)
Sustainable Furnishings (glass processing & glazing, cabinet making, furniture making, truss & frame, upholstery, specialised textile manufacture, flooring)
Racing and Horse Breeding (Horse and dog racing, horse breeding, racing services, trackwork and stables)
For those who are already on board, a big THANK YOU and we look forward to working with you in 2026.
Read more about what we do and how you can help
If you want to talk about any of the above, please contact our CEO Tony at Tony@fftitc.com.au
FFTTIC Board Welcomes Newly Elected Director Dr. Alex-Kate Langfield
In December, The Food, Fibre and Timber Industries Training Council (WA) Inc. welcomed Dr Alex-Kate Langfield to its Board of Directors. Dr. Langfield is representing the Animal Care and Management sector.
Dr. Langfield is a highly experienced veterinarian and biosecurity expert. To read more, please click here.
2026 – What’s happening with skills and workforce planning.
To get us ready for the new year, here are a couple of articles/reports that give us employment projections for 2026 and beyond as well as highlight what’s in store for skills and training.
Jobs and Skills Australia’s (JSA) employment projections are useful for understanding the impact of the current economic and labour market outlook on Australia’s future workforce needs.
Employment projections show the long-term structural shift in employment towards services-related industries is projected to continue over the next decade
Skills Insight Workforce Plan is produced annually as part of the workforce planning process. It guides their priorities and project submissions, while also providing industry bodies, employers and other stakeholders with evidence to inform their own workforce planning, training strategies and investment in skills
The AI Group explored skills and training highlights of 2025 and what’s in store this year.
Other News and Handy Information
The Cook Government is commencing an independent review to ensure the Western Australian racing industry has a framework for long-term financial sustainability.
ForestWorks is hosting a webinar to showcase a series of new videos and provide an opportunity to review the manual before launch and celebrate its official release. 14 January 2026
Skills Insight is releasing the draft materials for broad stakeholder feedback. The workshop will cover the proposed updates and explain how to provide input on the draft qualifications, skill sets and units of competency
Delivered by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, the scholarships are valued at $15,000 per person and include travel costs. This is open to growers, agronomists, advisers or researchers. Applications close on the 30th of January.
We are amid summer and working in heat can be hazardous to workers. Safe Work Australia has some guidelines and information that will help employers and workers to mitigate the risks.
Introducing WA’s latest cohort of apprentice jockeys. We wish them a long and successful career in the WA racing industry.
Apprenticeship Support Australia has provided a helpful guideline on how to address poor performance, safety concerns, or personal conduct with an apprentice.
Australian Institute of Horticulture (AIH), and their partner, Therapeutic Horticulture Australia (THA), are offering a range of webinars exploring the connection between people, plants, and place.
Great article that researches the history of women’s labour in Australian Farming, plus where we are today. (Make sure you click on the links in the article.)
We hope this has been of some assistance.
Food, Fibre and Timber Industries Training Council
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