Shearer and wool handler training
AWI funds hands-on, practical, in-shed training for shearers and wool handlers across the country to attract and retain new entrants into the wool harvesting industry; increase workers’ productivity, skills and professionalism; and increase returns to woolgrowers through improved clip preparation practices.
AWI regularly funds and support hands-on practical in-shed training for shearers and wool handlers. Pictured here is a small selection of AWI-funded courses recently run across the country.
Pandurra, SA | Strathbogie, VIC | Bendigo, VIC
Boyup Brook, WA | Willalooka, SA | Denmark, WA
As well as novice workshops and improver workshops, AWI also funds education programs for high school students.
- Novice workshops – These provide school leavers and new entrants to the wool industry, generally aged 16 to 25, with training geared towards gaining full-time employment in the industry.
- Improver workshops – These are run to assist new entrants and learner shearers currently working in industry to improve their shearing and wool handling skills.
- Education programs – These are targeted at high school students in years 9 to 12 and have an emphasis on the variety of career pathways within the industry.
“With the increased availability of experienced shearers, across all states including those from overseas, the opportunity for someone completing a novice course to progress to a full-time stand has become more limited,” said AWI National Manager, Wool Harvesting Training & Careers Development, Craig French.
“As a result, during the past year AWI has placed more focus on mentoring and keeping full-time learner shearers engaged and improving their skills, with the aim to help retain them in teams on a stand. As well as training shearers, AWI also has a focus on attracting and retaining wool handlers and other wool harvesting staff.”
AWI continues to present learner shearers with an AWI Learner Shearer Toolkits which contains a Heiniger handpiece and other shearing gear. The toolbox provides an extra incentive for budding shearers to build up their skills and stay in the industry. The gear is not a simple handout; the shearer must first pass strict criteria.
Rhys Frauenfelder and Jack Hewitt being presented with their AWI Learner Shearer Toolkits at Tara Sports Shear in Queensland by AWI trainer Karl Goodman in March.
AWI-funded trainers carry out wool harvesting training in New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland and Tasmania. In Victoria and South Australia, the AWI-funded training is provided by Shearing Contractors Association of Australia Shearer Woolhandler Training Inc (SCAA SWTI).
AWI thanks all the woolgrowers who provide their facilities and sheep, and all the other organisations and individuals that lend their time and resources to help run this training.
To arrange training in your state, email craig.french@wool.com or swt@wool.com. Keep an eye on the Facebook channels of @australianwoolinnovation (NSW, WA, Qld) and @shearerwoolhandlertraining (Vic, SA, Tas) for the latest updates.
More information: www.wool.com/harvestingtraining
Training wool harvesting trainers
Shearing and wool handling trainers came together in February at Naracoorte, South Australia, for a workshop on best practice wool harvesting techniques.
Workshops such as this one are held across the country to ensure both current and new trainers carry out a consistent and high level of shearing and wool handling training at AWI-funded in-shed training and workshops.
The aim of this particular workshop in February was to help ensure consistency in the AWI-funded training that SCAA SWTI carries out in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.
As well as being attended by current SCAA SWTI trainers, plus some trainers from Western Australia and Queensland, present at the Naracoorte workshop were a lot of new and up and coming trainers for Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.
For the shearer trainers at the workshop, there was a strong focus on dealing with large sheep, and the latest shearing patterns and techniques. Meanwhile, the wool handlers spent time drafting a new AWI Basic Guide to Woolhandling which includes techniques to make it as easy as possible for new entrants into the industry and to advance existing wool handlers to be as proficient in the shed as possible.
This article appeared in the Winter 2025 edition of AWI’s Beyond the Bale magazine that was published in June 2025. Reproduction of the article is encouraged.
