Legislative Council Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Answers to Questions Agricultural Education AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION The Hon. C.V. SCHAEFER Legislative Council AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION In reply to the Hon. C.V. SCHAEFER (2 June 2009). The Hon. G.E. GAGO Legislative Council Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy): The Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education is advised that: 1.	Industry workforce action plans are being developed for six priority sectors as identified in the Government's Skills Statement Initiative No 19 (September 2006). The Agri-food industry workforce action plan is one of these activities. The Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology, Primary Industries and Resources SA, Department of Trade and Economic Development, and relevant Industry Skills Boards (Food, Tourism and Hospitality and Primary Industries Skills Council) have been collaborating to identify actions and strategies that continue to develop fresh approaches to skills development and systems reform for the Agri-food sector. A range of materials have been developed to establish the current skills base within the agri-food sector, identify where skills are located, and the limitations these place on the industry's future expansion. The strategy also worked to identify the future direction of workforce needs within the industry and practical strategies for addressing identified gaps and shortages. The environmental scan, and industry profile provide an opportunity to develop a shared understanding about the agri-food workforce, based on data from 2006 ABS population census, Monash Employment Growth Forecasts, and National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). The profile provides the basis for discussion about the Agri-food workforce. These materials are available at the following address: http://www.workforceinfoservice.sa.gov.au/industryinfo/industryplanning/agri-food. The Action Plan and Implementation Strategies underpinning the plan have been developed and will be launched shortly. One of the core strategies supports the provision of appropriate training to address critical job and skill shortages at various locations and modes across the State. 2.	The University of Adelaide has advised that, as part of planning for growth, it has relocated Agricultural Science students to the Waite Campus where they will have access to world-class facilities and education in plant science. Students will continue to access the Roseworthy campus as part of their studies. In terms of accommodation, the University of Adelaide has advised that existing accommodation at Roseworthy is close to capacity due to the new Vet Science program and its actively planning for an extension to the student accommodation there.