AgriFood Skills Australia is a public company limited by guarantee under the Corporations Act 2001 (Commonwealth). The Australian Government established the former Agri-Food Industry Skills Council in May 2004 and the name was changed in November 2008.

Company activities are resourced principally by the Australian Government through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). It supports the development, review, implementation and continuous improvement of quality national training packages, and has an enhanced commitment to innovative skills and workforce development initiatives and services to respond to industry needs.

The company's governance arrangements have been refined in recent years to accommodate an expanded membership and new directions in innovation overseen by a skills-based Board of Directors. In undertaking these roles, the company draws on widespread industry and enterprise networks networks and proactive stakeholder engagement to:

• Provide advice and support to the agrifood industry and enterprises on skills and workforce development and solutions,
• Advise Skills Australia, the National Quality Council, DEEWR and other agencies, and
• Continuously improve and implement quality training products that deliver nationally recognised skills and qualifications.
   

Company role

AgriFood captures and provides industry intelligence and advice to government and enterprises to identify workforce development and skills and training needs of the agrifood industry. It seeks to build enterprise capability and innovation and to influence national policy on regional skills and workforce development and the funding of training.

AgriFood works in partnership with enterprises, government and providers to identify and validate the allocation of productivity and demand-driven training palces for existing workers and job seekers.
 

Principal activities

The Board's focus throughout 2009-10 was to develop and advance strategies and priorities that address critical skills and workforce shortages to enhance productivity, participation in and economic growth of the agrifood industry and its enterprises.

These priorities include:

• Advancing education and training,
• Identifying generic and emerging skills to support the attraction and retention of current and new employees,
• Demonstrating the value of industry and community leaders nad government working together to find solutions to cross-industry skills and workforce development in regional Australia, and
• Giving strategic advice to government on these issues.