Staff

Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Pigs (2007) requires that ‘Pigs must be cared for by personnel who are skilled in pig husbandry and are competent to maintain the health and welfare of the animals in accordance with the Standards listed in the Code, or are under the direct supervision of such personnel.”

 

All staff at Gene Transfer Centres are comprehensively trained in animal welfare and husbandry. Training is provided on a daily basis to all personnel at these centres, along with the following external training;

• Certificate 2 or 3 in Agriculture provided by CHM Alliance Stockperson Training Program
• Prohand provided by CHM Alliance to all PSA staff yearly. Prohand is a training program to improve the attitude and behaviour of the pig stockpeople. It modifies the beliefs of the stockpeople about the sensitivity of pigs to handling practices and consequences of aversive handling on ease of handling, productivity and welfare. It provides stockpeople with a basic understanding of pig sensory characteristics and behaviour to aid their handling.
• School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SATs) which allow high school students to work for PSA, undergo Certificate 2 in Agriculture whilst completing the secondary schooling. SATs have the opportunity to continue their careers at PSA after they have completed school.