Harvesting DVDs feature top tips

A set of six interactive DVDs covering all aspects of wool harvesting is helping to improve skills in shearing sheds.

The AWI DVDs are a complete reference guide for shearers, shed hands, woolgrowers, instructors and students working in various areas of wool harvesting. Packed with tips, hints and practical advice, the DVDs include interviews with experienced shearers, shed hands and woolclassers.

AWI wool harvesting project manager Joe Sullivan says the interactive DVDs are a great way of getting information to people working in the industry.

"So many aspects of the skills involved in shearing and wool handling are hard to describe in words," he says. "People working in shearing sheds have traditionally learnt their skills ‘on the job’ by being shown. The DVDs use the same approach.

"Leading shearers, contractors, woolclassers, wool handlers and equipment manufacturers have been involved in putting the DVDs together to ensure the information is useful, consistent and easy to understand."

The six DVDs in the series are: 

• Novice Shearing – training for your future;
• Improver/Professional Shearing – refining your skills;
• Wool Handling and Shed Skills – making it easier;
• Wool Industry Workouts – exercises for shearers and wool handlers;
• Experting and Grinding – obtaining the best from your gear; and
• Crutching Techniques – improving productivity.

The Novice Shearing DVD goes though the basic blow pattern and features interviews with experienced shearers, while the Improver/Professional Shearing DVD is aimed at shearers who want to hone their skills to improve their productivity.

The Wool Handling and Shed Skills disc follows the roles of various people in medium, superfine and crossbred sheds. It also includes forms and a spreadsheet for financial planning.

The Experting and Grinding DVD recognises the importance of getting a good cut with sharp gear and includes advice from four shearing equipment manufacturers on how to set up gear correctly. Correct crutching techniques and a comparison between over-the-board and cradle crutching feature in the Crutching Techniques DVD. This DVD is excellent for both the shearer and woolgrower.

The final DVD, on wool industry workouts, sets out how to maintain and improve workplace fitness and features interviews with leading shearers, shed hands and a physiotherapist who specialises in the wool industry workplace.

Cooma-based shearing contractor Mick Schofield is involved in industry training programs for shearers and shed hands and believes the DVDs have a lot to offer. Mr Schofield runs up to three shearing teams with about 25 staff who crutch and shear some 250,000 sheep a year.

"Good training is essential for new and existing people working in sheds," he says. "Our industry has an itinerant workforce, so there’s a constant need for people to develop new skills and for contractors to find new staff and train them.

"If the national flock increases after the drought by 10 million sheep, our industry will need an extra 2000 casual workers, so pressure to find and train staff will only grow. It’s important we attract young people into the industry, help them develop their skills and then stay in the industry."

Mr Schofield says young people entering the industry need access to good educational resources so they can improve their productivity, performance and longevity. "The DVDs complement existing teaching methods and are a realistic way for people to add to their on-the-job training." 

More information: find out about AWI shearer training DVD resources. DVDs are free to shearers, wool handlers, trainers and woolgrowers and are available by calling AWI on 1800 070 099.

Return to Beyond the Bale Issue 27 index page.

© Copyright 2008 Australian Wool Innovation (AWI)

• Legal terms
• Privacy policy
• Contact us
• Site map