Animal welfare training
Ensuring good animal welfare is critical to protecting New Zealand’s wool industry. It underpins wool’s acceptance by global consumers and preserves market access. Everyone involved with producing and harvesting wool has a responsibility to understand and uphold good animal welfare practices for the wellbeing of our animals and people and the prosperity of our sector.
The New Zealand government and industry are collectively funding in-person and online training to improve animal health and welfare outcomes in New Zealand’s wool harvesting industry.
Elite Wool Industry Training has been selected to deliver animal welfare training that has been developed with input from across the wool sector, government and animal welfare experts and refined through delivery in New Zealand and Australia.
What you’ll learn:
- What animal welfare means today and the science behind it.
- Why it matters for animals, people, and productivity.
- How the law applies to you – practical responsibilities under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.
- Best practices in calm sheep handling, reducing stress for both animals and handlers.
- How to support better outcomes in your work or study through welfare-focused handling techniques
- Wound Protocol: the differences between minor and major wounds.
The benefits to you are:
- A clear understanding of your responsibilities.
- Having the knowledge and skills to ensure the welfare of animals and improve productivity.
- Better employment opportunities.
This training is being funded for one-year initially with the potential for this to be extended if it is well attended. We encourage you to work with Elite to access the fully funded training that is being made available.
https://www.elitewoolindustrytraining.com
Practical course
One-day practical courses will be scheduled with contractors across the country in the lead up to the main shearing periods in 2026. If your work involves handling animals in and around the woolshed, you’ll gain the knowledge and confidence to handle sheep with care and comply with welfare standards.
Speak with Elite to organise this for your team or to find out where existing courses are being delivered.
Online course
An online course is available and can be completed at no cost for a limited period. This course includes five online modules and a self-assessment so that you can learn at your own pace.
Follow the link below to access the course:
https://book.elitewoolindustrytraining.com/AWCSHOC
Certificates of completion will be provided to demonstrate that you have undertaken the training.
Contact:
Noel Handley, Operations Manager, Elite Wool Industry Training
T: 021 528 401
