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Food processing forms what is regarded as the nation’s largest manufacturing
sector with turnover of $65.9 billion in 2002-03. Food processing and manufacturing
consists of more than 7,800 firms or enterprises and employs almost 200,000
people. In addition to contributing a significant trade surplus every year,
the sector is an important provider of jobs and business opportunities, particularly
in rural, coastal and regional Australia.
The sector is highly concentrated
- 171 firms have more than 200 employees each, accounting for 76 per cent of
turnover and 69 per cent of sector employment. These enterprises operate in
a highly-competitive, low-profit-margin environment, where ownership is dominated
by a number of multinational corporations with powerful brands.
 
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Process Worker
DESCRIPTION - Process
workers assemble components and perform production line operations
and other manual duties in factories.
DUTIES - Process workers may perform the following
tasks:
- load and unload raw materials and finished products
- check products
to reject defective items, pack into boxes and stack onto pallets
- undertake inventory procedures, pack materials and place in storage
- maintain the cleanliness of machinery and the general working
area
- position components and materials under instruction from
leading hands or supervisors
- operate automatic and semi-automatic
machinery and tools such as conveyor belts, bottling machines or
soldering irons
- perform off-line duties such as sub-assembly
and testing under instruction from leading hands or supervisors.
Process workers mostly perform repetitive tasks on articles passing
along the production line. Some factories rotate their staff so that
they are not doing the same task for too long. They work in factories,
on moving assembly lines or at benches and may be required to work
shifts in some plants. Conditions may be noisy and assemblers may
have to sit or stand for long periods.
WORK ENVIRONMENT - Education officers work indoors
in offices and classrooms. They usually work regular hours, but may
be required for evenings and on weekends. The work may be stressful.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES -
- enjoy practical and manual work
- physically fit
- good eyesight
- good hand-eye coordination
- able to carry out repetitive tasks
quickly and methodically
- able to work as part of a team
- able
to read instructions
- safety conscious.
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Winery Worker
DESCRIPTION - Winery
workers are involved in growing grapes and making, bottling,
warehousing, packaging, distributing and selling wine.
Specialisations
- A winery worker may be involved in all aspects of vineyard
and cellar work or may specialise in one or more areas, such
as cellar work, bottling, laboratory work, vineyard work, warehousing
and packing, or cellar sales, depending on size and type of
winery. With experience and sometimes further training, it
is possible to become a Winery Supervisor.
DUTIES -
Winery workers may perform the following tasks:
- prepare soil, plant vines, and cultivate and fertilise
crops
- construct wire trellises to support vines and fruit
- control weeds, diseases and pests
- assist with grape picking
and, after harvest, vine pruning
- operate equipment to crush
and ferment the grapes
- assist in bottle fermentation by
twining (turning the bottles) and re-topping during the process
(for sparkling wines)
- operate equipment to clarify and
filter wine
- make additions to wine, and blend and transfer
wine during maturation
- prepare wine for bottling
- assist
with barrel work and racking
- assist with bottling, corking
and general cleaning
- operate cellar door, including sales
and administration.
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Winery Supervisor
DESCRIPTION - A winery
worker may be involved in all aspects of vineyard and cellar
work or may specialise in one or more areas, such as cellar
work, bottling, laboratory work, vineyard work, warehousing
and packing, or cellar sales, depending on size and type of
winery. With experience and sometimes further training, it
is possible to become a Winery Supervisor.
Related Industries
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES -
- enjoy practical activities
- able to undertake manual work
- able to work quickly and reliably
- good with numbers
- good oral and written communication skills
- able to work
safely and be safety conscious.
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Food Process Worker
DESCRIPTION - Food
process workers operate machines and prepare foods for processing
using a wide range of equipment and methods.
A food process worker may specialise.
DUTIES - Food process workers may perform the
following tasks:
- receive, check and store raw materials
- operate and clean
conveyor and processing equipment
- take samples and check
products for despatch
- check boxes or bins of fruit and
vegetables as they are delivered, and organise weighing and
storage
- prepare and sort fruit and vegetables for processing,
and feed them into machines
- handle live or slaughtered
poultry, and prepare for cooking or further processing
- operate machinery for chemical treating, size grading,
crushing and extracting juice, and mixing, freezing and drying
foods
- operate machinery to blend flour, meal and feed.
If involved in the storage and conservation of grain,
food process workers take samples of grain for analysis, keep
records of silo stocks and sew bags using industrial sewing machines.
Raw materials must be processed quickly, or stored under controlled
conditions, to make sure of high quality and avoid waste. Equipment
must be sterilised and processing areas kept clean.
WORK ENVIRONMENT - Those involved in grain-mill work
do a lot of lifting, pushing and dragging. Conditions are sometimes
dusty.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES -
- enjoy practical work
- high standard of personal cleanliness
- technical aptitude
- attention to detail
- good hand-eye
coordination
- grain mill workers must be physically fit
with no skin or chest complaints.
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Confectioner
DESCRIPTION - Confectioners
mix sweeteners and other ingredients, and shape and cook confectionery
including chocolate, toffee and other lollies.
DUTIES - Confectioners may perform
the following tasks:
- examine production schedules to determine confectionery
types and quantities to be made
- check the cleanliness and
operation of equipment before beginning production
- weigh,
measure, mix, dissolve and boil ingredients in
pans
- operate equipment that refines and tempers
chocolate
- assist with coating chocolate bars
and preparing chocolate products
- control temperature
and pressure in cookers used to make boiled sweets,
starch-moulded products, caramels, toffees, nougat
and chocolate centres
- operate equipment to
compress sugar mixes into sweets
- check batch
consistency using a stainless steel
- sort and inspect finished or partly finished
products
WORK ENVIRONMENT - Education officers work indoors
in offices and classrooms. They usually work regular hours, but
may be required for evenings and on weekends. The work may be
stressful.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES -
- enjoy practical and manual work
- physically fit
- neat
and clean
- enjoy working in a team.
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Cheesemaker
DESCRIPTION - Cheesemakers
make and supervise the making of cheese.
Related Industries
DUTIES - Cheesemakers may undertake the following
tasks:
- operate a wide range of mechanised equipment, often from
a sophisticated control room
- keep an eye on the production
of cheese using advanced process control and recording systems
- supervise and carry out the cleaning, sanitation and preparation
of equipment.
WORK ENVIRONMENT - In small factories using
traditional methods, there is a lot of skilled manual work. Cheesemakers
are often required to work shifts.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES -
- enjoy practical and manual work
- high standard of personal
hygiene
- able to supervise other workers
- good communication
skills.
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Cook
DESCRIPTION - Cooks
prepare and cook food.
Specialisations:
The range of duties carried out by cooks will vary depending
on where they work. In hotels, clubs, restaurants and take-away
food outlets, cooks often specialise in preparing and cooking
a particular type of food (e.g. fried chicken, pizza or barbecued
meat). They may also specialise in national cuisine (e.g. Thai,
Vietnamese, French or Italian). Other specialisations include
entrees, desserts, international and pastry cooking. With experience
and further training, qualified cooks may be promoted to supervisory
positions.
DUTIES - A cook may perform the following tasks:
- check food to make sure of its quality
- regulate temperatures
of ovens, grills and other cooking equipment
- prepare food
for cooking
- cook food by a range of methods (i.e. baking,
braising, frying, roasting or steaming)
- divide food into
portions and make sure that the food is well presented
- clean food preparation areas and equipment
- store food
in temperature-controlled facilities
- receive and store
supplies
- make sure kitchen is hygienic and functional
- plan menus and estimate food requirements
- prepare food
to meet special dietary requirements
- train and supervise
other staff.
WORK ENVIRONMENT - Cooks may be required to
work shifts, including weekends and public holidays. The work
may be stressful, especially at peak hours of the day.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES -
- a high level of personal cleanliness
- able to plan your
time and work under pressure
- good communication skills
- punctuality
- flexibility to perform shift work (sometimes
on a 24-hour rotating roster)
- able to stay calm in difficult
situations
- able to work well in a team.
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Baker
DESCRIPTION - Bakers
make bread, cakes and pastries, using flour and other ingredients.
DUTIES - Bakers may perform the following tasks:
- check that equipment meets health and safety regulations
- check the quality of raw materials and weigh ingredients
- mix dough by hand or machine, then place in tins or trays
- load tins or trays into ovens, keeping an eye on the oven
temperatures and the appearance of the bread, cake or pastry
- unload ovens when the bread is baked, take bread out of
trays and put aside to cool
- glaze or decorate cakes and
pastries with icing or cream
- order baking supplies from
wholesalers
- operate slicing and wrapping machines
- serve
customers.
WORK ENVIRONMENT - The increased use of machinery
has reduced heavy work for bakers. However, they still have to
stand a lot of the time. Most bakers work full time, and they
often work late at night or early in the morning. They may also
work on weekends and public holidays. Conditions in the bakery
are usually hot and humid.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES -
- enjoy practical work
- good hand-eye coordination
- good
health, with no skin allergies or chest complaints
- physically
fit
- neat and clean.
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Primary Products Inspector
DESCRIPTION - Primary
products inspectors examine animals, plants and agricultural
produce at farms, abattoirs, processing and packing plants,
wholesale markets and places of storage or shipment to make
sure that they meet government standards of hygiene and quality,
and export requirements.
Also called:
- Inspector (Primary Products)
- Food Standards Officer
- Fish Export Inspector
- Farm Products Inspector
- Dairy Produce
Inspector
- Agricultural Inspector
Primary products inspectors may specialise:
DUTIES - Primary products inspectors may perform
the following tasks:
- check produce, live animals and crops for disease, insect
or chemical residue and other damage, and reject those of
substandard quality
- check and grade produce (e.g. meat,
fruit, vegetables, milk, grains, sugar cane and fish) during
processing and make sure that ingredients used in processing
meet government standards of purity and grading
- supervise
fumigation of ships and aircraft
- check on the proper disposal
of quarantine garbage
- examine imported plants, animals
and products (e.g. timber, seeds, dried fruits) and make
quarantine arrangements
- make sure that commercial fishing
regulations are obeyed
- inspect livestock before and after
slaughter to check that they are fit for human consumption
- advise on packing and loading regulations
- advise primary
producers on economic aspects of disease eradication, and
inform producers and the general public of health implications
of diseases and impurities
- appear in court to give evidence
in cases involving breaches of the regulations.
WORK ENVIRONMENT - Primary products inspectors
may be required to work shifts, including weekends.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES -
- normal colour vision
- able to deal confidently with people
- good communication skills
- able to make accurate observations
- good organisational and supervisory skills
- able to handle
animals with confidence
- comfortable working with computers.
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Food Processing Technician
DESCRIPTION - Food
processing technicians check production processes and product
quality, and undertake maintenance and basic repair of equipment.
They also assist food technologists in developing food products
and establishing standards for production and packaging.
Related Industries
DUTIES - Food processing technicians may perform
the following tasks:
- carry out routine testing to make sure that safety and
health standards are met
- check content, nutritional value,
flavour and appearance
- collect information from surveys
and observations
- develop, maintain and repair equipment
for use in research
- inspect, analyse and recommend ways
of improving quality
- check handling, processing and storage
of raw materials
- check cleanliness of equipment
- assist
in servicing and sales.
WORK ENVIRONMENT - Cooks may be required to
work shifts, including weekends and public holidays. The work
may be stressful, especially at peak hours of the day.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES -
- enjoy scientific activities
- good observation skills
- initiative
- able to work as part of a team
- good organisation
skills
- a high level of accuracy
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Food Technologist
DESCRIPTION - Food
technologists develop new, and improve existing, food products,
and set standards for producing, packaging and marketing food.
Food technologists may specialise in fields such as meat and
dairy products or seafood. They may also work in areas such
as marketing and management, production supervision, quality
control, or research and development.
DUTIES - Food technologists may perform the
following tasks:
- make sure that hygienic conditions, storage and procedures
are maintained during the processing and packaging of food
- test raw ingredients and processed food for nutritional
value and microbiological quality, and check foods for colour,
taste and flavour
- develop new products and devise the techniques
needed to produce these foods
- supervise cleaning and maintenance
of machinery used in food processing
- compare products with
those of other brands and participate in surveys which provide
information to management about new products
- supervise
the transportation of foodstuffs such as fruit, vegetables
and milk, and inspect for spoilage
- develop quality control
procedures for the manufacture of products in plants or factories
- analyse results and experimental data
- supervise and coordinate
the work of technicians.
WORK ENVIRONMENT - Food technologists may be
required to wear protective clothing.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES -
- enjoy scientific activities
- initiative
- aptitude for
science and technology
- able to work as part of a team
- observation skills
- a high level of accuracy
- good physical
health.
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Production Manager (Manufacturing)
DESCRIPTION - Also
called:
- Works Manager (Manufacturing)
- Plant Manager (Manufacturing)
- Manager (Production Manufacturing)
Production managers (manufacturing) plan, administer and review
the manufacturing activities of an organisation to optimise resource
use, minimise costs and maintain quality standards.
Related Industries
DUTIES - Production managers (manufacturing)
may perform the following tasks:
- plan production policy in consultation with other managers
- plan details of production activity in terms of output
quality and quantity, cost, time available, and labour requirements
- prepare work programs to achieve planned production and
direct production control activities
- control use of production
plant facilities through planning of maintenance, the setting
of operating hours and supply of parts and tools
- coordinate
and direct quality control procedures, and the implementation
of safety requirements, and make sure that statutory requirements
are met
- direct research into new and improved production
methods and products
- control the preparation of production
records and reports
- give advice and information on production
to other managers and clients
- recommend and implement initiatives
such as new techniques and products, purchases of new machinery
and changes in staff levels
- control, direct and monitor
production staff, organise staff selection, training, development
and utilisation.
WORK ENVIRONMENT - Production managers (manufacturing)
usually work indoors in factories and offices, often working
closely with other professionals to design and plan the manufacture
of new products.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES -
- interested in technical and engineering activities
- willing
to adhere to safety requirements
- able to identify, analyse
and solve problems
- good oral and written communication
skills
- able to work independently
- able to work as part
of a team
- able to accept responsibility
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Beer Brewer
DESCRIPTION - Brewers
undertake the testing and production of beer, and development
of new beers, and supervise brewery workers.
DUTIES - Brewers may perform the
following tasks:
- source raw materials and develop the recipes for beer
- supervise brewery workers
- supervise the maintenance of
the brewery plant and its facilities
- control the fermentation
process of beer
- analyse test results of the beer at various
stages of production
- undertake quality control measures
- control the fermentation process of beer
- supervise the
bottling and labelling of the beer once it is produced.
WORK ENVIRONMENT - Brewers work either for major
brewing companies or boutique microbreweries. Brewers in microbreweries
may have a more hands on role than those in major brewing companies,
where they may be more involved in supervisory tasks. Brewing
can involve shift work, and like other production environments,
breweries may be noisy. Therefore, brewers may have to wear protective
ear muffs and safety glasses and shoes.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES -
- interested in practical work
- initiative and problem solving
skills
- have a good sense of taste and smell
- good analytical
skills
- good communication skills
- be at least 18 years
of age
- good at technical and scientific things
- confident
and able to trust your own judgement
- good supervisory skills
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Brewery Worker
DESCRIPTION - Brewery
workers produce, test, package, store and dispatch beer in
kegs, bottles and cans.
DUTIES - Brewery workers may perform
the following tasks:
- receive, store and handle raw materials
- grind grain and
mix raw materials, direct their flow into silos or malt mills,
and weigh milled grain into containers above vessels and
cereal cookers
- start the beer brewing cycle and monitor
pressure, temperature and flow gauges
- operate heating,
chilling, freezing, pasteurising and carbonating equipment
- mash, boil and cool ingredients
- remove yeast from beer
fermenting containers
- transfer fermented beer to vats to
mature, and add more ingredients
- pump beer through a filter,
adjusting the pressure and flow of carbon dioxide according
to instructions
- check containers and make sure they are
filled, capped, pasteurised, labelled and packed as they
pass through machines
- operate high-speed packaging machinery
such as bottle/can fillers and labellers
- operate equipment
used for washing and filling kegs, cans and bottles
- perform
general maintenance duties.
WORK ENVIRONMENT - Most brewery processes are
performed by machines. Workers supervise their operation and
monitor product quality. Brewery workers may have to stand for
long periods. Protective clothing is provided when necessary.
Shift work may be involved.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES -
- enjoy practical work
- at least 18 years of age
- good
health
- physically fit
- able to work safely and be safety
conscious.
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Manufacturer
DESCRIPTION - Manufacturers
plan, organise and manage the operations of factories which
manufacture goods.
DUTIES - Manufacturers may perform the following
tasks:
- look for business opportunities, work out new manufacturing
processes and choose products to be manufactured
- develop
a business plan and put into place procedures for operating,
marketing, personnel and pricing
- look into and meet regulatory
and statutory requirements affecting manufacturing operations
and the environment
- manage the activities of production,
warehousing, distribution and other operating units
- maintain
quality control systems for manufacturing, waste disposal,
delivery and other procedures
- oversee the coordination
of orders for raw materials, supplies and equipment and arrange
packaging, delivery and wholesaling of products
- oversee
the coordination of after-sales service
- oversee the preparation
of quotes for the manufacture of specialised goods and arrange
contracts with customers
- work out and oversee the implementation
of production run schedules.
WORK ENVIRONMENT - Manufacturers spend their
time in the office and on the factory floor.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES -
- interested in technical and engineering activities
- able to conceptualise and think creatively
- able to identify,
analyse and solve problems
- good interpersonal skills
- good communication skills
- team leadership capabilities
- able to accept responsibility
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Fruit & Vegetable Picker
DESCRIPTION - Fruit
and vegetable pickers harvest fruit, vegetables, nuts and berries
on farms, market gardens and orchards, and prepare produce
for distribution.
Duties and Tasks
Quick
Facts
Work
Conditions
Personal
Requirements
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Industries
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Market
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Jobs
Earnings
Related
Courses
Further
Information
State
Specific Information
DUTIES - A fruit and vegetable picker may
perform the following tasks:
- select fruit and vegetables for picking according to such
things as size and ripeness, and discard rotting and overripened
produce
- operate farm machinery to harvest nuts, fruit and
vegetables
- load picked fruit and vegetables into containers,
taking care to avoid damage
- drive tractors or other vehicles
to deliver fruit and vegetables to the packing shed
- sort
and pack produce
- drive forklifts to load boxes of produce
onto trucks.
WORK ENVIRONMENT - Fruit and vegetable pickers
may work from ladders or mechanical hoists when they are picking
tree crops, or they may have to stoop to pick field and vine
crops. Gloves may be worn to protect hands from thorny branches.
Weather conditions can be hot, dusty, humid or rainy, but work
usually continues to make sure that the harvest is completed
on time. Harvesting work is seasonal and pickers may travel long
distances after picking one crop to get to their next job. Some
employers provide accommodation, but pickers usually need to
find their own.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES -
- enjoy practical work
- free from skin conditions and allergies
to agricultural chemicals
- able to work at heights
- able
to work quickly and consistently for long periods of time
- willing to work outdoors in all weather conditions
- able
to travel from property to property to pick fruit and vegetables
- able to undertake manual and sometimes heavy work.
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Butcher
DESCRIPTION - Butchers
select, cut, trim and prepare meat for sale or supply.
DUTIES - Butchers may perform the following
tasks:
- cut, trim and shape standard cuts of meat to size
- process
carcasses into primary and secondary cuts
- pack and store
products for display and sale
- order supplies from wholesalers
using AUS-MEAT Language, as well as weigh and check stock
on receipt
- assemble and operate mincers, grinders, mixers,
patty-forming or sausage-forming machines, and bandsaws.
- use
correct detergents and sanitisers to prevent food poisoning
and contamination of premises and equipment
- assist clients
(including hotels and restaurants) in menu planning, estimating
food portions and production costs
- collect payment for
sales
- prepare marinated meats, value-added and ready-to-cook
dishes
- advise customers about alternative cuts, cooking
methods, storage requirements and nutritional aspects of
meat.
WORK ENVIRONMENT - Butchers work with a variety
of knives, hand tools, power equipment (including mincers, mixers
and band saws) and computer-operated machinery. Butchers work
in shops and boning/slicing rooms. They usually have early morning
starts and their work involves a lot of contact with people such
as customers and workmates. Butchers are exposed to animal blood.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES -
- enjoy practical and manual work
- physically fit
- good
hand-eye coordination
- good health
- good interpersonal
skills
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Meat Processing Worker
DESCRIPTION - Meat
processing workers perform a wide range of tasks including
handling livestock, slaughtering and processing livestock,
operating processing and rendering equipment, despatching products
and keeping records.
Meat processing workers may specialise:
DUTIES - Meat processing workers may perform
the following tasks:
- move and manage animals before they are killed
- stun animals
using an electrical device or cartridge gun
- kill animals
while they are unconscious
- remove hides/pelts and internal
organs
- use saws to split the carcasses
- trim carcasses
- move carcasses to chillers and freezers
- load meat products
into trucks
- break carcasses by boning and slicing meat
cuts for sale and further processing
- pack the boned and
sliced meat into cartons
- process hides and pelts
- process
by-products.
WORK ENVIRONMENT - Some abattoirs have meat-packaging
operations for export. Meat processing workers stand for most
of the day. Hands and clothes may become soiled with blood or
fat, but health regulations make sure that meat processing workers
work under hygienic conditions. The areas in which they work
are usually large, well lit and ventilated and kept very clean.
Employers usually provide a laundry service for uniforms.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES -
- enjoy practical and manual activities
- good hand-eye coordination
- physically fit
- able to work safely.
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