A NEW online course educating Australia’s red meat producers in on-farm safe food practices is being unveiled as the next step forward in the national Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) program.
Developed by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), the 30-minute electronic course, known as LPA Learning, is aimed at improving producer knowledge around on-farm food safety practices.
“It’s vital all red meat producers understand their food safety responsibilities,” said Peter Hall, member of the LPA Advisory Committee and a cattle producer from north-west Queensland.
“LPA Learning supports producers to implement the on-farm practices required to deliver safe red meat to our domestic and international customers.
“With the national trend towards reduction in public extension services, and the remote locations of many producers, online learning is a cost-effective way to deliver training.”
LPA Learning will also be used to strengthen the processes for LPA accreditation and producers’ periodic recommitment to the program.
From September this year, producers seeking LPA accreditation for the first time must work through LPA Learning, and then successfully complete a ten-question assessment before they can become accredited.
From January next year, producers already accredited under LPA will be asked to complete the online assessment when they recommit to the program.
Producers will be notified by email or by letter when their recommitment is due, which will happen progressively on a three-year cycle.
They may also work through the LPA Learning tool in preparation for their recommitment. “Producers are generally very hands-on,” said Michael Craig, a sheepmeat and cattle producer from western Victoria.
“Through LPA Learning, information is provided in an easy-to-follow story-based approach which includes questions to check each producer’s knowledge and reinforce learning along the way.
“What better way to learn how best to implement LPA on our own properties than by practising real activities in real scenarios?
“We are encouraging all producers to get online and test their knowledge of LPA requirements.”
To complete the online assessment, registered producers must log in from September 1 at http://lpa.ausmeat.com.au/
