Horticulture growers in the Riverina region in NSW have been voicing their concern with respect to finding skilled workers, despite advertising widely. The horticulture industry of the Riverina region is substantial, producing a third of NSW fruit and nuts, vegetables and half of the States wine grape production.
The skills issue in horticulture has had an enormous impact, and there is concern for the future impact on the economic development in the Riverina if solutions are not identified. To establish and validate the extent of the issue and to formulate policy responses, RMCG were engaged by Regional Development Australia Riverina (RDA).
Through a series of regional stakeholder consultation workshops and an industry survey, the project identified several recommendations to improve the coordination of effort of industry within the region; raise the profile of the existing quality horticulture skill development on offer in the Riverina; and support growers with targeted HR packages including up-skilling of the existing workforce.
The final report on the study is available through RDA Riverina here.