Here you’ll find some of the key stockperson competency variations for each state and territory in Australia.
Stockperson competency is critical to the welfare of all farmed animals. Competency requirements are outlined in The Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals – Pigs.
The Model Code suggests that the supervisors on piggeries should hold a Certificate III in Agriculture – Pig Production, or equivalent. The Code also states:
“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 this Code, or are under direct supervision of such personnel”.
The requirements under the Model Code have variations for each state and territory. You can learn about these below and find relevant links for more information. In addition, the Companion Handbook to the Model Code is a guide that assists in understanding and actioning the Model Code, including regarding stockperson competence and training.
There are no pigs farmed in the ACT.
A person is a suitably qualified person if the person:
(a) is a veterinary practitioner; or
(b) holds a Certificate III in Agriculture (Pig Production) or an equivalent qualification; or
(c) has been assessed by a training organisation registered under the Vocational Education and Training Act (or under an equivalent Act in another State or Territory) to have successfully completed units of competence in relation to working in pork production, which include units of competence in at least the following areas:
- move and handle pigs;
- care for health and welfare of pigs;
- comply with industry animal welfare requirements;
- administer medication to livestock;
- euthanase livestock; or
(d) has, for a period of at least 12 months, cared for pigs in a commercial pig establishment and had on-the-job training and experience in at least the following areas:
- moving and handling pigs;
- inspecting and assessing the health and well-being of pigs;
- carrying out vaccinations, health treatments and the elective husbandry procedures;
- humane destruction of pigs suffering an incurable disease, untreatable injury or painful deformity;
- maintaining records of inspections and assessments of pigs.
For more information about NSW visit Pigs – Standards, Guidelines and Codes of Practice.
There are no pigs farmed in the NT.
A person is suitably qualified to carry out a husbandry procedure on a pig only if—
(a) the person is a veterinary surgeon; or
(b) the person has satisfactorily completed any of the following training —
- a Certificate III in pork production (AHC30422) or an equivalent qualification;
- the skills set called 'Pork Industry stockperson skill set' (AHSS00151) or an equivalent qualification; or
(c) the person has undertaken, for a period of at least 12 months, practical training and experience in husbandry procedures at a pig establishment that, during the period, complied with an industry recognised quality assurance program.
For more information about QLD visit the Animal Care and Protection Regulation 2023.
A person is suitably qualified if the person—
(a) is a veterinary surgeon; or
(b) holds a tertiary qualification approved by the Minister in the field of veterinary science or agriculture; or
(c) holds a Certificate III in Agriculture (Pig Production) from an NVR registered training organisation; or
(d) holds a qualification that is, in the opinion of the Minister, equivalent to the qualification referred to in paragraph (c); or
(e) satisfies the Minister that he or she has, during a period of at least 12 months, been responsible for the comprehensive care of pigs in a business that has, during that period of responsibility, complied with a herd health program or some other quality assurance program approved by the Minister relating to pig husbandry.
For more information about SA download the Animal Welfare Regulations 2012.
(a) holds a tertiary qualification in veterinary science or agriculture; or
(b) holds –
- a Certificate III in Agriculture (Pig Production) issued by the Australian Qualification Network; or
- a qualification that the Minister determines is equivalent to that certificate; or
(c) has, for a period of at least 12 months, cared for pigs kept for commercial purposes and is able to provide evidence, to the satisfaction of the Minister, of practical training and experience in all of the following areas:
- moving and handling pigs;
- inspecting and assessing the health and wellbeing of pigs;
- carrying out vaccinations and other health treatments in accordance;
- carrying out husbandry procedures;
- humane destruction of pigs;
- maintaining records of inspections and assessments of pigs.
For more information about TAS visit the Animal Welfare (Pigs) Regulations.
Term used: suitably qualified person
In these regulations — suitably qualified person means a person who —
(a) is a veterinary surgeon; or
(b) holds a tertiary qualification in the field of agriculture or veterinary science; or
(c) holds a Certificate III in Agriculture (Pork Production) from a college as defined in the Vocational Education and Training Act; or
(d) holds a qualification that in the opinion of the CEO is equivalent to the qualification referred to in paragraph (c); or
(e) has, during a period of at least 12 months, been responsible for the care of pigs in a business in which pigs are kept, or used, for commercial purposes and which has had in place during that period a herd health programme. A person is to be taken to have been responsible for the care of pigs for the purposes of the definition of suitably qualified person, if the person has, during the period referred to in that paragraph, had training and experience in all of the following —
- moving and handling pigs;
- inspecting and assessing the health and wellbeing of pigs;
- implementing a herd health programme in relation to pigs;
- keeping and maintaining records relating to the matters set out in paragraphs (b) and (c);
- all simple husbandry procedures;
- the destruction of a pig that was necessary in order to prevent undue suffering by the pig.
For more information about WA download the Animal Welfare (Pig Industry) Regulations.
Suitably qualified: for stock-persons, this means a person who:
(a) holds a Certificate III in Agriculture (Pig Production) or an equivalent qualification; or
(b) has been assessed by a Registered Training Organisation to have successfully completed the units of competence in the Pork Industry Stockpersons Skill Set:
- Care for health and welfare of pigs
- Move and handle pigs
- Observe enterprise quality assurance procedures, or comply with industry quality assurance requirements
- Contribute to OHS processes
- Administer medication to animals
- Implement animal health control programs
- Comply with animal industry requirements; or
(c) has worked for a period of at least 12 months, caring for pigs in a commercial pig establishment where the person received on the job training and experience and can demonstrate he or she is competent in the following skill set:
- moving and handling pigs
- inspecting and assessing the health and well-being of pigs
- carrying out vaccinations, health treatments and elective husbandry procedures
- humane destruction of pigs
- maintaining records of inspections and assessments of pigs; or
(d) is a veterinary practitioner
For more information about VIC visit the Pig Welfare Standards and Guidelines.