Develop a future-ready workforce & capability

Unlike seasonal industries, dairy processing operates year-round and is heavily dependent on a highly skilled workforce to maintain quality, efficiency and innovation. About 23 per cent of the direct workforce is among the two highest job skill categories.

Yet despite these opportunities, the industry risks deepening labour shortages.

With over half the workforce nearing retirement and a lack of specialised training facilities, the sector is at a crossroads.

Dairy processors urgently need targeted training solutions to ensure a skilled and adaptable workforce to reduce the reliance on international labour, and to secure long term viability.

Without targeted action, these shortages will intensify — threatening growth and the future of Australian dairy processing.

We must break down access barriers to attracting, retaining and upskilling dairy processing workers, ensuring a strong pipeline of talent for years to come.

To deliver this ADPF recommends:

• fund an ADPF scholarship program to train the next generation of dairy processors
• expand Fee-Free TAFE eligibility to include key dairy processing qualification
• establish the Dairy Career Pathways Program and Virtual Dairy Centre of Excellence, and
• include dairy processing on the skilled occupation list for all new working and skilled visas and renewals recognising the need for:
  • dairy production workers (skilled and unskilled)
  • quality control (manager and officer levels
  • packaging technologists and automation engineers.