TAFELINK

Gourmet food manufacturer Earthstar Foods is improving the food processing skills of employees after a welcome financial boost from the Australian Skills Vouchers Programme.

Earthstar Food’s managing company, Challenge Tweed Incorporated, is a registered charity that focuses on the employment and ongoing development of people with disabilities. It is an industry leader and has been operating for two decades.

Around two thirds of staff have benefited from Work Skills Vouchers worth up to $3000 each, and are now completing the Certificate II Food Processing with TAFE NSW – North Coast Institute. The delivery and assessment of the course has been adapted to suit the needs of the 26 students, all of whom have mild intellectual disabilities.

Based in Murwillumbah, Earthstar Foods manufactures and packages 3000 tubs of organic hummus each week. The hummus is distributed to health food shops and supermarkets along the east coast of Australia.

Q:	Need a funding boost for staff training?
A:	TAFE NSW can help you access Skills Vouchers.

The Certificate II covers aspects of food hygiene and safety, packaging process operation, product quality and consistency, mathematical concepts and effective workplace communication. Observational and oral training and assessment has been carried out on-site. Ongoing support is being provided by two TAFE NSW trainers who are on-site two days a week.

Mary Davis, Teacher In Charge, Food Technology, North Coast Institute, said there have been many benefits for the company since training began in March.

‘The supervisors have said that having external trainers has helped formalise training and enabled them to focus on their own tasks,’ Ms Davis said.

Employees have reported improvements in workplace communication and achieving their business objectives in line with their Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point and Organic Certification.

Kathy Gordon, Client Services Manager, Earthstar Foods, said the delivery of the course had been effective, combining one-on-one training with on-the-job observational assessments. She said the Work Skills vouchers had provided a great training opportunity for the business.

Louise McKinnon has been a packaging assistant at Earthstar Foods and is now Office Assistant. She said it was fantastic to be able to work towards the qualification, and the course has helped her communicate better with colleagues and given her a better understanding of all aspects of the business. She also said her numeracy skills had improved.

‘I’m looking forward to completing the rest of the course,’ Ms McKinnon said.