Page 4 - Australian Pork Newspaper

Australasian Pig Science Association (Inc)
APSA 2019
17TH BIENNIAL CONFERENCE
Hilton
Adelaide, Australia
17th - 20th November 2019
Mark these dates in your calendar
17th - 20th November 2019
The Australasian Pig Science Association
is pleased to announce that
the 2019 APSA Biennial Conference will be held at the
Hilton
Adelaide, SA, Australia
from
Some of the original candidates in the Autism in Agriculture initiative.
th 17
Registration Prices Early bird ends 1st September 2019
WHEN I announced a world-first initiative by Autism CRC and Sun- Pork Farms to employ autistic adults in animal care positions in Aus- tralia’s pork industry in 2016, it felt good.
My client Pork CRC, along with the South Australian government, contributed $150,000 for what was then a pilot pro- ject in SA and Queensland to employ a minimum of four autistic adults in ani- mal care positions within SunPork Farms opera- tions in each state.
Collectively, develop- ment and assessment of the program represented a financial commitment by SunPork Farms, Autism CRC and Specialisterne exceeding $800,000.
Program goals included:
• Identifying and em- ploying diverse skills and talents of autistic adults in animal care;
• Developing innovative solutions that continue to provide optimal welfare for livestock; and
• Building capac- ity within the agricultural sector to employ autistic adults.
The project offered life-changing opportu- nities for people on the spectrum and further im- provement in the welfare of livestock.
Then Pork CRC CEO Roger Campbell said the CRC for High Integ- rity Australian Pork was proud to be involved with such a game-changing project, which he brand- ed the most exciting he’d been involved with.
“This initiative will open up a whole new world to autistic people and those on the autism spectrum and with Aus- tralia’s pork industry needing to boost its pool of dedicated animal car- ers to maintain and im- prove our existing high welfare standards, this is a win-win for all parties,” Dr Campbell said.
“World-leading Pork CRC supported science and research and develop- ment has clearly demon-
toria’s The Weekly Times, SunPork managing direc- tor Rob van Barneveld, the driver behind the ini- tiative, was quoted as say- ing SunPork had found the perfect match by em- ploying autistic people.
A high attention to de- tail and a close affinity with animals were, appar- ently, the sometimes hard- to-find traits SunPork Farms needed specifically from their staff in animal care roles.
A past president of Au- tism Queensland and cur- rent chair of Autism CRC, Rob has a daughter who was initially diagnosed with autism but later re- diagnosed with Rett syn- drome.
Rob explained to The Weekly Times that Sun- Pork looked at how they could have a workplace environment that allowed them to employ the people they needed in the roles they needed.
He acknowledged that integrating the new em- ployees was as much of an educational process with the existing workforce as it was with the people be- ing employed.
SunPork therefore now promotes an inclusive cul- ture, where it doesn’t just have autistic people work- ing with autistic people, but farm workplaces that are fully inclusive.
The program has en- joyed a very high reten- tion rate, something I understand Rob is very proud of.
Some candidates Sun- Pork employed had never had a job or worked away from home, despite being qualified for the job.
They now have mean- ingful, long-term jobs, live by themselves, have made friends and are part of the community.
What more can you say, other than community is what life is all about, whether that be in the home or workplace.
I emailed Rob the day I read the inspir- ing update in The Weekly Times: “Rob, I continue to marvel at this incred- ible initiative of yours. Undoubtedly the best workplace initiative I’ve ever witnessed. Keep it up. Regards, Brendon.”
His humble and inclu- sive reply: “Thanks Bren- don. We are very proud of it. Regards Rob.”
And so he and SunPork deservedly should be, as should Australia’s pork community, which now, more than ever before, needs good news stories that demonstrate inclu- siveness and prioritising of human and animal wel- fare.
The two, after all, go hand-in-hand.
REGISTRATION TYPE APSA Member
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th to 20
November 2019.
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Cant Comment by BRENDON CANT
strated the very real link between good stockman- ship and good productiv- ity and with this in mind, I believe we can continue to improve welfare and productivity outcomes by embracing a new group of enthusiastic, incentivised piggery workers.”
Well, I am now thrilled that two and a half years down the track, SunPork Farms reportedly employs more than a dozen indi- viduals on the spectrum, making up about 3 percent of the workforce based in Queensland and SA.
In a recent report in Vic-
Full Registration Day Registration Full Registration Day Registration Full Registration
825.00 995.00
455.00 455.00 1025.00 1325.00 555.00 555.00 380.00 380.00
Visit the website for more details
www.apsa.asn.au
Page 4 – Australian Pork Newspaper, April 2019
www.porknews.com.au
SunPork shines on autistic employees
Prof Rob van Barneveld, always thinking laterally.