SUN PORK FARMS
Autism and Agriculture was an initiative of SunPork Farms, Autism CRC and Specialisterne Australia, which aimed to improve animal welfare by creating opportunities in animal care for adults on the autism spectrum.
In collaboration with the Pork CRC and Specialisterne Australia, nine autistic adults in South Australia and seven in Queensland were employed within SunPork Farms during the pilot program.
Mentoring and workplace support was provided to enable candidates to work in the agricultural industry, employing key strengths in animal care to ultimately enhance animal welfare.
Autism and Agriculture acknowledges the funding provided by the South Australian Government to develop the pilot program.
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Here are some comments from CEO of SunPork Group, Rob Van Barneveld:
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“We really see this as a critical part of our business going forward, it’s not a token exercise...we’d like to expand these opportunities to other parts of our business going forward”
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“In the mentoring program (existing staff) said to us ‘We’re learning more from our candidates than we’ll probably ever teach them’ and it was quite an awakening to realise that there’s ability we’re dealing with rather than disability”
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“If it works well for our autistic employees, it works well for our other employees”
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The Autism and Agriculture project caught the attention of Channel 10’s The Project
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See Related News Article:
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"Piggery seeks employees on autism spectrum for animal husbandry and welfare roles" ABC, 2016