19-24TWP Horticulture Industry Research Survey 2022

Horticulture Industry
Research Survey

Why are we asking these questions?

We currently have a funding grant to research the provision of training in the horticultural industry in Tasmania. We are asking a range of people including employers, employees, trainers, students, and peak body representatives, how training provision currently works for them and whether/how this might be improved.

Providing your contact details

Whilst you are very welcome to fill in this survey anonymously, we hope that you will consider providing your contact details. This is because we want this to be a piece of work that can genuinely inform how horticultural training provision, including funding and delivery, can better meet the needs of all stakeholders. As part of this work, we will be bringing together groups of stakeholders to share their thoughts and discuss solutions. We include an invitation to express interest in participating in this.

How much time will it take to complete the questionnaire?

Who to contact if you have questions or technical difficulties?

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact the survey manager using our contact form here:
https://www.globalnetacademy.edu.au/contact-us/

If you experience any technical difficulty with completing the survey form, please use our contact form and request technical help so we can help you and address any issue that might affect others.

"*" indicates required fields

Step 1 of 11

Are you prepared to provide your name and contact details?*

We are offering a voucher (you can select from a choice of vouchers) for completing this survey. If you would like to claim the voucher, you will need to provide us with your contact details. More details about the vouchers are at the end of the survey.

Name

First Last

Phone

Gender

This field is optional. There are pathway equity and access issues that relate to gender, so we have included this question as it helps understand people’s individual contexts.

In what region are you based?*

Do you have any horticulture skills?*

Do you hold a horticulture qualification?*

What qualifications do you hold?*

Please choose all that apply

Certificate I in Agrifood (or similar) Operations

Certificate II in Horticulture

Certificate III in Horticulture

Certificate IV in Horticulture

Diploma or above in Horticulture

Other

What other qualifications do you hold?

Please tell us what you are studying and where

I am currently studying

Where I am studying

Are you currently studying horticulture at any level?*

Are you currently employed/self employed in any job that requires you to use your horticulture skills*

Have you previously been in a job (including being self employed) that requires you to use your horticulture skills*

How long you been involved with horticulture in any capacity? (in years)*

Please tell us a little more about your horticulture interest, background and experience.*

Funded Training

Governments, both Federal and State, provide a certain amount of funding to support the training systems.

Considering any role, you hold or have held (Choose all that apply)*

I have received free, government funded horticulture training.

I have trained at Tas TAFE.

I have undertaken horticulture training as a trainee or apprentice.

I have funded my own training.

I have employed a horticulture trainee and/or apprentice.

I have provided training being supported by government funding.

I have attended horticulture training provided by my employer at no cost to me.

I have never participated in any training

In your experience, how easy is it to access government funding to support horticulture training?*

Very difficult	Difficult	Neither difficult nor easy	Easy	Very Easy	Don’t know

How well do you believe that you understand the government funding that you might access to provide horticulture training to yourself or others?*

I do not understand it at all	I find it a bit confusing	Neutral	I generally understand what funding is available	I find it very easy to access the funding I need

How well do you believe you understand the current vocational education and training system in Tasmania?*

I do not understand it at all	I find it a bit confusing	Neutral	I generally understand the system	I understand the VET system in Tasmania very well

How easy have you found it to get information or advice on different aspects of horticulture training?*

Very difficult	Difficult	Neither difficult nor easy	Easy	Very Easy

Please indicate which of the following sources of training information you are familiar with*

https:///www.skills.gov.au

https://www.training.gov.au

https://skillstasmania.tas.gov.au

None of these

When was the last time you accessed www.skills.gov.au?

When was the last time you accessed www.training.gov.au?

When was the last time you accessed Skills Tasmania Website (skillstasmania.tas.gov.au)?

What do you consider your best source of up-to-date training information and advice?*

Can you suggest anything that would help you better understand the training system?

In what role are you primarily answering this questionnaire?*

Please choose from the list the primary role in which you are completing this survey. If you hold more than one role, you will have an opportunity to express this later in the survey

Do you hold any other horticulture roles in which you would like to contribute further information to this survey?

If you hold more than one significant role e.g., horticultural business owner and member of a peak body, choose a secondary role below. This will provide a second set of role specific questions later in the survey.

What other role would you like to select?

This selection is in addition to the primary role you selected above.

This page is showing because you have said that you are a current or former horticulture student.

Are you currently receiving horticulture training?*

What training provider are you connected with?*

Please select the statements that apply to you:*

I am currently a student training in horticulture at TasTAFE

I am currently a student training in horticulture at a private registered training organisation

I am currently training in horticulture outside the Tasmanian training system

I am enrolled in a full qualification

I am enrolled in a specialized skill set

What qualification(s) are you enrolled in?*

Certificate I

Certificate II

Certificate III

Certificate IV

Diploma or above

Have you had any difficulties accessing horticulture training either now or in the past?*

What were these difficulties (choose all that apply)*

Cost

Distance

Times available

Child care

Transport

Appropriateness of training

Other

What other difficulties have you experienced accessing horticulture training?*

What are your main reasons for undertaking training (choose all that apply)*

As an apprentice or trainee

Because my employer requires me to attend training

In the hope of getting employment

To improve my career my career prospects

To start or develop a business of my own

To stay up to date

Just out of interest

Other

What are your other reasons for undertaking training?

Please complete this statement: If I could change one thing about my training experience, it would be…*

Is there anything else you would like to contribute to this survey in relation to how well current training meets student needs?*

Please complete this statement: I have been really frustrated or had difficulty to progressing my training because…*

Please complete this statement: what I have found really valuable in horticulture training I have received recently is…*

This page is showing because you have said that you are an owner / manager of a business that employs horticulturists.

Are you*

What is the name of this organisation?*

What industry is your organisation in?*

Do you have strong connections to any other horticulturally related organisations?*

What other organisation do you have a strong connection with?

How many employees does your organisation employ?*

Please provide a brief description of your business*

How many of your employees require horticulture skills to fulfill their job role?*

Do you employ horticulture apprentices / trainees in your business?*

Have you employed apprentices/trainees in the past?*

Are you currently employing one or more apprentices / trainees?*

How many horticulture apprentices / trainees do you employ?

What form does / did their training take?*

Choose all that apply

Weekly

Periodic blocks of time

On the job training

Do you plan to take on an apprentice / trainee in the next 2 years?*

What would be your preferred training schedule?*

Choose all that apply

Weekly

Periodic blocks of time

On the job training

Other

What other training schedule would you prefer?

Is there anything preventing you from doing so?*

What are the main reasons preventing you from taking on an apprentice / trainee in the next 2 years*

Do you financially or otherwise support your employees in further developing their horticulture skills*

What support do you provide your employees in further developing their horticulture skills*

Please select any of the following that apply to your business. The business has:*

Choose all that apply

Engaged students, other than our own employees, in a work placement.

Hosted a visit by a group of horticulture students to our organisation to observe modern horticulture industry practices.

Visited a training organisation as a guest speaker.

Provided a skills demonstration and / or specialist training session as part of a training program.

Participated in a joint horticulture-based project with a horticulture training organisation or group.

Has a membership in a horticulture-based industry association.

Provided our own training programs to employees.

Engaged with an external training provider to meet our training needs.

Provided advice or support to a trainer or training organisation.

In general, how easy have you found it to actively engage with trainees and/or training organisations?*

Very difficult	Difficult	Neutral	Easy	Very easy

How important do you feel it is for industry to have input into horticulture training programs? Please explain your answer.*

What barriers have you experienced or seen to engaging with training programs in order to ensure industry input as an active partner in the training process?*

As a business and/or manager, what do you see as the strengths of the apprenticeship / traineeship pathway into professional horticulture?*

As a business and/or manager, what do you see as the weaknesses of the apprenticeship / traineeship pathway into professional horticulture?*

Has your business ever engaged with a school or college to provide any of the following:

Choose all that apply

School based apprenticeship / traineeship

Group visit of students to see horticulture in action in industry.

Visit to schools to promote horticulture careers.

Visit to schools / colleges to demonstrate horticulture skills and/ or provide hands on horticulture training.

A joint horticulture-based project with a school / college

Engaged with a primary school to share horticulture knowledge / skills / resources.

This page is showing because you have said that you are a horticulture trainer.

Please select all that apply to you either currently on in the past*

Choose all that apply

I have been employed for wages or salary as a horticulture trainer.

I have worked on contract as a horticulture trainer.

I have worked for the public provider as a horticulture trainer.

I have worked for a private registered training organisation as a horticulture trainer.

I have provided horticulture training outside the nationally recognised training system.

I have been involved in training apprentices / trainees.

Are you currently working as a horticulture trainer?*

Which training organisation do you currently work for?

Would you like to work as a horticulture trainer if the opportunity presented?”*

Are you employed or self employed in a horticulture job other than as a trainer?*

What proportion of your time is spent in training?

Are you a full time trainer?*

What proportion of your time is spent in training?

In the last three years, what have you done to ensure that you are staying up to date with current industry practices?*

Choose all that apply

Worked in industry.

Attended industry conferences.

Subscribed to industry journals.

Member of an industry body.

Received training to extend your horticulture skills.

Gone on industry visits.

Other – please specify.

What other things have you done to ensure you are staying up to date with industry practices?

As a trainer, how do you engage industry in your training programs?*

Through student visits to industry.

Student work placements.

Invitations to industry as a guest speaker.

Other

What other things do you do to engage industry in your training programs?

In general, how easy have you found it to engage actively with industry as part of your programs?*

Very difficult	Difficult	Neutral	Easy	Very easy

What barriers have you experienced, or do you see to engaging with industry as active partners in the training process?*

As a trainer, what do you see as the strengths of the apprentice / trainee pathway into professional horticulture?*

As a trainer, what do you see as the weaknesses of the apprentice / trainee pathway into professional horticulture?*

Have you worked with a school or college to provide horticulture training in any form?*

Please tell us a little more about the nature of your experience.

This page is showing because you have said that you are a representative of an industry peak body related to horticulture.

Please select the best description of your organisation*

What best describes your organisation?*

As an organisation, which of the following are you involved in

Choose all that apply

Promoting careers in horticulture.

Helping your members access horticulture training.

Providing funding / resources for horticulture education and training.

Helping training organisations (including schools and colleges) engage with industry to broaden horticulture skills and experience of students.

Providing feedback / input to the development of training packages.

Supporting training organisations (including schools and colleges) in placing learners as apprentices or trainees.

Supporting your members and/or clients in finding suitable apprentices and/or trainees.

How easy do you feel it is for industry and training organisations to work together as active participants in the training process*

Very difficult	Difficult	Neutral	Easy	Very easy

What barriers have you experienced or seen that limit engagement between industry and the training process?*

What do you see as the strengths of the traditional apprenticeship / traineeship pathway into professional horticulture?*

What do you see as the weaknesses of the traditional apprenticeship / traineeship pathway into professional horticulture?*

This page is showing because you have said that you are a horticulturist employed, self-employed or a contractor in work that requires horticulture skills other than that of a horticulture trainer.

How many employees does the organisation that you work for employ?*

What industry is your organisation in?*

Briefly describe the nature of the business you work in

Briefly describe the job that you do in relation to the need for horticulture skills*

How professionally qualified do you feel you are in terms of doing your job well?*

Need a lot more training	Some training would help	I have just enough skills and knowledge for my job	I am a little over qualified	I am very over qualified for the job I do

Do you receive any regular horticulture training provided by your employer?*

Or if self-employed or a contractor do you access regular horticultural training for yourself?

In what form?*

Choose all that apply

Provided in hours as an apprentice / trainee.

Short courses / skill sets from an outside provider.

Support of regular training to achieve a certificate III or above not through an apprenticeship or traineeship.

Other

What other regular training do you receive through your employer?

Do you engage in any activities outside work to develop / extend your horticulture skills?*

What form of training does this take?

Have you experienced or do you see barriers to engaging with training programs in order to extend / develop your horticulture skill base?*

In your role, do you ever

Choose all that apply

Supervise students on work placement?

Support a horticulture apprentice / Trainee.

Help host a visit from a local training organisation, school or college interested in horticulture in the workplace?

Work on a joint horticulture based project with horticulture students from an outside training program?

It is important for industry to have input into horticulture training programs*

Strongly disagree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Strongly agree

As someone working in the industry using horticulture skills in their job, what do you see as the strengths of apprenticeships / traineeships as a pathway into professional horticulture?*

What do you see as the weaknesses of apprenticeships / traineeships as a pathway into professional horticulture?*

This page is showing because you have said that you are someone with an interest in horticulture training in a position not captured by the other categories.

Briefly describe the role you have that generates your interest in horticulture training?*

In your role, which of the following do you engage in*

Choose all that apply

Promoting careers in horticulture.

Supporting access to horticulture training.

Supporting the funding of horticulture training programs, formally or informally through training organisations, schools and/or colleges.

Contributing to the development of training packages, programs and / or resources.

Supporting industry and/or training organisations in developing apprenticeships / traineeship contracts.

Other

What other role are you engaged in?

It is important for industry and training organisations to work together as active participants in the training process*

Strongly disagree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Strongly agree

What barriers have you experienced or seen that limit engagement between industry and the training process?*

What do you see as the strengths of the traditional apprenticeship / traineeship pathway into professional horticulture?*

What do you see as the weaknesses of the traditional apprenticeship / traineeship pathway into professional horticulture?*

The things I have found of greatest value in training I have been associated with include…*

I am frustrated by some (or all) of the horticulture training I have been connected with because…*

If I could change one thing about the way horticulture training is currently delivered or administered, it would be…*

What training and qualifications would you like to see in a job ready potential employee?

Thinking about your own horticulture experience or exposure, what training or qualifications do you think a job ready employee in your industry should have. You can add training and qualifications by clicking on the “+” to the right of the field.

As part of our research we intend to hold a number of stakeholder discussions to further determine the strengths, weaknesses and issues facing providing horticulture training and training pathways that better address the needs of all stakeholders.

If the opportunity presented itself, would you be prepared to take part in a stakeholder consultation group?*

Please note you will need to provide your contact details. If you choose not to provide your contact details at the beginning of this questionnaire, please choose “Yes” to the question below about now providing your contact details

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.

Thank you for interest. We will contact you to get your input as to the form these discussions might take.

Having completed our survey, do you feel differently about providing your name and contact details so that we can share our report with you once completed.

If you wish to claim your gift for completing this survey, you will need to provide your name and contact details.

Name*

First Last

Email*

What voucher would you like for having completed this survey?*

What Charity would you like us to donate $50 to?

We will share our research report with you once complete.

Thank you for completing the survey. We have very much appreciated your time completing this survey.

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Analysis

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Qualifications or Experience

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Industry longevity

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VET Sector Training Exposure

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VET Sector Training Understanding

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Training Provider Interactions

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Sector Engagement Interactions

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Training Interactions Comments

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Other Comments

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Entry Reviewed

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