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October 2020 Newsletter

October 2020 Newsletter

19
FIAQ Monthly News October
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Dear Debbie

Welcome to our October newsletter!  Below are events / government grants and other infomation relevant to our industry that you may be interested in.

In this email

END OF YEAR FUNDING FOR WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AVAILABLE

Residual funding is available to support the development of female leaders across Australia’s food sector.

The initiative is providing women with grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 to enable participation in one of three programs that cover such things as elements of a successful team, communication, presence and influence, driving performance, problem solving and decision making, and progressing diversity and inclusion.

The scholarship funding is provided with the specific intent of providing powerful and effective development opportunities for food sector women but has to be allocated by the end of 2020.

Expressions of Interest
Find out more and register your interest by completing the Expression of Interest form here prior to 4th December: https://www.wla.edu.au/grants.html

Queensland Agribusiness Digital Solutions Grant

Round 1 of the Queensland Agribusiness Digital Solutions grant program is now open.

The grant is part of the Queensland Government’s Unite and Recover, Digital Transformation in Agribusiness Initiative, aimed at enhancing digital skills, creating regional jobs, and driving efficiencies for businesses.

In Round 1 the Queensland Government is providing up to $1.2 million to industry organisations. Up to $200,000 (excluding GST) is available for successful projects that target industry wide outcomes. Co-contribution of a minimum of 50 per cent is required for successful projects, of which 20 per cent is a cash contribution.
If your organisation has a potential project with industry wide impacts, we invite you to apply.

Projects may include but are not limited to:

*   building digital capabilities across the agribusiness supply chain
*   building systems to digitise paper-based solutions
*   digital automation of systems, including options to grow new and existing markets
*   integrated data management solutions
*   digital integration of regulatory compliance requirements
*   real-time farm monitoring, including digital dashboards for food safety and biosecurity management
*   integrated systems to demonstrate proof of authenticity
*   purchasing and or upgrading of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for the purpose of enhancing digital capability in accordance with the intent of this program, including increased cyber security software as part of a digital solution.

Applications are open and will close at 11.59pm Sunday, 1 November 2020 (AEST).

Eligible applications will be competitively assessed on their ability to demonstrate benefits to Queensland, accelerated adoption potential, and project viability. For more information on the selection criteria, terms and conditions see the program guidelines available online click here.

For further information on the Agribusiness Digital Solutions Grants Program contact the DAF Customer Service Centre on 13 25 23 or email [email protected]

Provide Feedback on Draft Flour Milling Skills Standards

As the machinery used in mills becomes more complex and the workforce becomes more concentrated, the skills needed by mill operatives are changing.

As part of this project, the units, skill sets and qualification that support skills in flour milling are being updated to reflect the increasingly automated work environment and demand for a broader range of products.

Draft skills standards are now available for your review and feedback.

Industry input is essential so that the skills standards describe current work practices, terminology and equipment, to help equip the next generation of mill operatives.

To view the documents and have your say, visit the project page.

Food & Beverage Processing Project

Sign Up for a Consultation Webinar

To discuss the drafts with memebers of the project team and others from your industry, register for a consultation webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

13 October, 1:00 PM AEDT – register here
26 October, 1:00 PM AEDT – register here

Covid Update – Food Industry – VICFollowing the announcement earlier in the week in relation to easing of restrictions in Victoria (see below) there are 2 new additional measures in place for those designated a high risk industry.

High Risk industries include supermarket distribution centres, large cold stores, dairy distribution centres along with meat, seafood and poultry processing. If your business operates in these areas there are two additional mitigation strategies to the High Risk COVID Safe Plans and the six existing principles of operation. These apply irrespective of regional or metro location.

They are:

Surveillance / Testing

The guidelines will require a minimum of 25% of staff on site to be tested in week one with 100% by week four. Three options for testing have been designed, they include

Option 1 – Existing relationship with a private pathology. If a businesses have an existing arrangement with a private pathology provider to undertake regular COVID-19 testing of their workfare they can continue with these arrangements. The company will pay for the specimen collection and DHHS will pay for the pathology (subject to DHHS agreed terms).

Option 2 – DHHS will allocate a private pathology provider to provide in-reach testing, with specimen collection arrangements negotiated directly between the company and the pathology provider. DHHS will pay costs of specimen collection and pathology.

Option 3 – Workers to be provided with a letter from DHHS (via the company) to say they are part of an asymptomatic surveillance testing program. Workers can present the letter at one of the 210 fixed testing sites around the state (but not Commonwealth funded respiratory clinics or pathology centres) and are tested.  DHHS will pay costs of specimen collection and pathology.

Companies will receive a letter from DHHS with these options outlined and be required to advise there preference.

COVID Safe Marshalls

A COVID Safe Marshall must be appointed for high risk industries.  Responsible for monitoring compliance and education of the workforce, the designated Marshall should dedicate a minimum of 50% of their time to this task and all shifts should be covered. Marshalls should undertake the Governments Infections Control training program and it is highly recommended they have appropriate first aid training. Further details on the roles, responsibilities and reporting requirements will be available shortly.

There will be a compliance grace period on requirements related to surveillance testing and COVID Marshalls. It is expected that high risk industry will have these two additional mitigation strategies in place by Thursday 8 October. The AFGC will provide further information as it comes to hand.

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