A leadership skill gap within the prawn farming industry has been identified at the middle-management and supervisory staff level, specifically regarding the ability to effectively manage a team, build successful workplace culture and work effectively with generational differences. Attaining and retaining staff is a challenge for industry and this challenge is expected to become greater as the industry grows. The development of a positive workplace culture to improve job satisfaction will be important to attract and retain staff into the future. Another issue that this industry faces as it grows is the progression of younger generations into leadership roles that require the supervision of older employees and visa versa where older generations are working longer. This brings a need for supervisory and middle management staff to understand how to work effectively with different generations in the workforce. In response to these industry needs, the APFA has engaged Affectus, a company who focuses on delivering leadership development programs and workshops. Affectus proposes to manage and facilitate a pilot training program for staff of APFA member businesses to address the earlier described leadership skill gaps. This program will host a maximum of 20 people and will include a 2-day training workshop,1-day technical industry workshop, industry networking dinner, online coaching session and a half day online follow-up workshop. The pilot program aims to prepare participants to have a positive impact on the workplace through increased understanding of self, workplace culture, generational differences, communication and conflict resolution. This project addresses a key R&D priority of the FRDC and APFA 2020-2025 Strategic Plans, namely ‘Capability and Capacity’ and ‘Human Capital and Emerging Technologies’, respectively.

This project addresses a key R&D priority of the APFA Strategic Plan 2020-2025: Human Capital and Emerging Technologies. The APFA is committed to continuing to develop an industry wide workforce development plan that encourages leadership, upskilling and opportunities. This project seeks to upskill members from 2022-2024 by providing a scholarship to support APFA members to participate in the NSILP training, the industry will benefit from an increased capability and provide opportunities to develop effective business strategy. Additionally, this project seeks to fund 2 APFA members to attend conferences/workshops which provide leadership opportunities. APFA members will benefit from exposure to the wider Australian seafood industry that will stimulate innovation and networking to discuss industry issues, workshop solutions, teach best practices, share knowledge, and plan for the future of the seafood industry.

Over the next five years, Australia’s prawn farming industry is projected to grow to $500M of sales value, as well as an anticipated capital investment of $400M in expansion projects. Subsequently, this will create an estimated 1,200 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs in regional Australia. This significant expansion, and increased reliance on digital skills and infrastructure will challenge the industry and requires a strategic approach to building capacity to accelerate the transformation of the sector.
Members of the APFA have identified a need to invest in emerging technologies, such as novel disease management, automatic feeders, innovative aeration technologies, feed additives, drones, digitised farming and water management systems, as outlined in their Strategic Plan 2020-25. These technologies have the potential to make prawn farming businesses more profitable, productive and environmentally sustainable. In order to embrace these technologies, the industry urgently needs workers to be digitally literate and attract new employees that already possess or are willing to be trained in these skills.
The ‘Accelerating the adoption of digital technology on Australian prawn farms’ project will create a resilient and profitable prawn farming workforce by escalating the adoption of digital technologies across the sector. A range of emerging and current technologies will be showcased to prawn farmers to accelerate their adoption, thus increasing their responsiveness and resilience to industry challenges.
By providing industry-wide learning opportunities for employees across the supply chain, a capable and confident workforce will be created. The project will focus on building the digital skills and capabilities of current and future workforce participants, as well as create new job opportunities across regional Australia for people already digitally literate. With the support and the commitment of the industry and the government this project has the potential to digitally transform prawn farming, showcase its advancements to the wider population, and develop resources to deliver the skilled workers needed for ongoing success.

Commercial in confidence. To know more about this project please contact FRDC.