Overview of Food, Meat Processing and Butchery
The food, meat processing and butchery industry carries out operations in agribusiness, retail and exporting. It is one of the country’s most important industries and there are many career opportunities from the processing level right through to business management.
Other careers in food, meat processing and butchery are involved in health, safety and hygiene. Safety officers and inspectors work hard to ensure that stringent processing and packing measures are adhered to in order to maintain the industry’s integrity.
Studying Food, Meat Processing and Butchery
Technical institutes and TAFEs offer courses in food, meat processing and butchery that cover important aspects of the industry such as hygiene and sanitation, animal anatomy, regulations, processing hardware, customer service and stock management.
Some courses are four years in length in the form of apprenticeships, such as the Certificate III in Meat Processing (Retailing), while others are shorter and offer different skill sets, such as the Certificate IV in Meat Processing (Meat Safety).
Careers in Food, Meat Processing and Butchery
You can use your skills and training in food, meat processing and butchery for a range of career pathways. Farmers and meat processors work at the primary level, where meat inspectors are involved in monitoring health and safety practices. Smallgoods processors produce cured meats, while retailers sell goods in community, wholesale and supermarket butchers.
Skills needed in Food, Meat Processing and Butchery
Butchers and meat processors must be resilient in mentally and physically demanding jobs. They must have an appreciation for quality and an attention to detail so as to ensure their work is performed to hygiene and safety regulations. Customer service and communication skills are also important in a team environment and in retail butchery.