00:02From the shearing shed to coaching from the sidelines, when Great Southern contractor
00:08Dale Parnell is not organising her team of shearers, she spends the time volunteering
00:13in her local community of Jerramungup.
00:16Contractors and their workers are like a huge backbone of the economic and social aspect
00:22of a small town.
00:23But with sheep numbers falling across Western Australia, Dale worries more shearers will
00:27be forced to move away for work, leaving fewer people to fill local volunteer roles.
00:3321 years ago when I started in the industry, we had four weeks a year, that was our downtime,
00:38our off season, and now that is four months.
00:42Declining employment opportunities across the industry prompted the WA Shearing Industry
00:47Association to offer training for shearers and wool workers.
00:51Almost $140 million was set aside to support industry transition away from the live export
00:58of sheep by sea.
01:00Now part of that funding has gone towards launching a West Australian program called Beyond the
01:06Shed.
01:06So far, over 90 shearers have signed up and nearly 30 contractors.
01:112.2 million dollars for hands-on training, connecting farmers and regional businesses with skilled
01:18workers, while creating a brighter future for the shearing industry.
01:22It made sense that we utilise them and diversify that skill set so they're able to do things,
01:29you know, in that quiet shearing season.
01:31I think it's fantastic what they're doing, you know, helping shearing, shed workers develop
01:37new skills.
01:38To help regional communities thrive.
01:401. нами shearls.
Comments