TAFE NSW is helping address a skills gap in the food and beverage manufacturing industry - in the booming field of craft beer brewing - by offering Australia’s first nationally accredited Certificate IV in Artisan Fermented Products course.

Food and beverage factory workers, such as brewery workers, are the fifth-largest employing occupation in Australia’s manufacturing industry, according to the Australian Jobs Report 2023. All occupations in the food trades workers group were on Australia’s 2023 Skills Priority List, and the Manufacturing Workforce Plan 2024 projects the manufacturing industry’s workforce will grow by almost 120,000 people in the 10 years to 2033.

TAFE NSW’s new Certificate IV in Artisan Fermented Products course is being offered from this month, giving students the opportunity to learn practical and theoretical skills from a pillar of the craft beer industry, TAFE NSW brewing teacher and Young Henrys Brewery founder and owner, Richard Adamson.

“The independent brewing industry benefits Australia’s economy, local communities, and farmers,” Mr Adamson, who also designed the new course, said.

“The industry contributes around $1.93 billion annually to the national economy, and the more than 600 independent breweries in Australia employ almost 9,000 people. Now is a great time for brewers to continue to upskill, particularly with the Independent Brewers Association forecasting the industry has the potential to represent 15 per cent of domestic beer production by 2031; it currently represents 7 per cent.”

TAFE NSW brewing teacher Danny Warner said the new Certificate IV in Artisan Fermented Products will help accelerate this growth by teaching established brewery workers how to enhance their existing practical skills, leadership abilities, and understanding of local food and alcohol safety standards. It also aims to support ‘beer-preneurs’ to expand their business acumen and start their own brewery.

“The great news is that it’s a hybrid course, meaning students can enrol from anywhere across New South Wales,” Mr Warner said.

“Only three classes a term will be face-to-face at TAFE NSW Ultimo with the rest online. Students will also be able to go on optional brewery field trips as part of their studies, including to Victoria’s Hop Harvest.

“This new Certificate IV highlights how TAFE NSW is helping meet the skills needs of the brewing industry.”

Brewer Jason Adair from Penrith studied a Certificate III in Food Processing (Micro Brewing) at TAFE NSW in 2020 and has worked at Young Henrys for almost four years. He said he enrolled in the new Certificate IV in Artisan Fermented Products course to enhance his professional development.

“When I looked at the course content, I realised it was geared towards those like me who have been in the brewing industry for a while and want to grow their skills and careers,” Mr Adair said.

“I’m keen to move into a senior brewer, production manager, or head brewer role in the future, so this new qualification will help me achieve that goal. I’m really interested in learning about raw materials management, production management, scheduling, and recipe development, and this course will enable me to grow my skills and knowledge in those areas and help me boost my career long-term.

“I think this new Certificate IV in Artisan Fermented Products is a good thing for our industry, as it will attract more people into brewing because there’s now a clear path you can take to become qualified for more senior roles, and therefore ensure career longevity.”

Media contact: Rob Virtue, Communications Specialist, rob.virtue@tafensw.edu.au