MINTRAC logo MINTRAC
National Meat Industry Training Advisory Council Limited

The 2015 MINTRAC Meat Retail Trainer's Conference

The 10th Annual National Meat Retail Trainers’ Conference was held at the William Angliss Institute in Melbourne on 19 and 19 November 2015.

The MINTRAC Meat Retail Trainers’ Conference is an important professional development and networking event in the meat retail training calendar incorporating two packed days of presentations, workshops and of course, entertainment. There was a great line up of presenters this year discussing various topics including:

  • the new Training Package and updates to meat retail qualifications
  • developing and training an indigenous workforce
  • supporting apprentices with specific learning disabilities
  • packaging – now and into the future
  • high pressure processing for enhanced meat quality
  • the importance of hand hygiene
  • real-life presentations including the story of a successful apprentice butcher and a report from a member of the Tri-Nations Butchers Challenge
  • updates from industry organisations, including MLA, APL and SafeWork VIC
  • delivery and assessment strategy workshops.

    • This year also saw the Meat Retail Trainers’ competition return to the conference. This fun but highly competitive event saw trainers from each state compete in a show of skills and innovation. The theme of the 2015 competition was “Master and Apprentice” and each team had at least one apprentice competing.

    Best of all, the products from the competition were cooked and served for lunch on the second day of the conference, giving all attendees the opportunity to try the tempting products made by the trainers and apprentices.

    Many thanks to all the conference presenters, sponsors and exhibitors especially our gold sponsor Meat and Livestock Australia. The level of support shown from sponsors and exhibitors was outstanding— without this support the conference would not be possible.

    We look forward to seeing you again at the 2016 Meat Retail Trainers’ Conference.