Our Novice Wool Handling & Shearing Courses are designed for learner shearers to provide a solid introduction to the Wool Harvesting industry and create a pathway to obtaining ongoing employment. Once completed you may be employable as a wool handler or a "learner shearer".
Novice Courses are 5 day live-in, shed based, practical training taught by leading industry trainers. These courses are fully funded by Australian Wool Innovation and are offered at no cost to eligible participants.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Over 16 years of age - if under 17 years must provide a letter of guardianship
- If still at school, must be planning to leave school in the next 2-3 months and have a contracting team or work lined up
Novice Courses are suitable for participants ranging from wool handlers looking to learn new skills in shearing & farm workers wanting to gain experience in shearing and crutching to those new to the shearing industry. Whilst we can take a new entrant that has no experience, priority is given to those working in the industry who have an opportunity for a full time stand as a learner shearer.
You will learn about a range of skills such as handling sheep for sheep shearing, requirements specific to shearing & using equipment such as grinding combs, cutters & setting up a handpiece, maintaining your health & wellbeing for the shearing industry & financial budgeting for seasonal workers. Throughout the course you will also be taught all aspects of wool handling, wool pressing & clip preparation to prepare you to go straight into the industry as a wool handler or “learner shearer”.
The aim for you upon completion of the course is to be a wool handler or a novice shearer who is able to shear a minimum of 40 adult merino sheep or 50 adult crossbred sheep per day to an acceptable industry standard.
Details:
- Location: Muresk Institute, Toodyay WA
- Date: Monday June 17 to Friday June 21
- Trainers: Kevin Gellatly (shearing), Ben Frewen (shearing) and Amanda Davis (wool handling).
To be considered as a participant for this Novice Course you must complete this form.
To provide quality training this school has a maximum of 14 attendees and we often have twice as many apply. Therefore, filling out this form does not guarantee you a place at the upcoming school. The purpose of this form is to screen for the most suitable trainees for each course. You will be contacted by the AWI Training Coordinator 2-4 weeks before the school to advise on the status of your application.
