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Teens keen to fill the shearer shortage but they need incentives to stay, veterans say

Jada Cannon, 15, is keen to work in the wool industry. (ABC New England North West: Lara Webster)

As the weather begins to cool and you turn to your warm wool clothing, you may not be aware that the piece of wool on your back was shorn by a shrinking workforce. 

An ongoing shearer shortage has left Australia's wool producers desperate to find workers, but it is also leading some young people to consider a career in the notoriously tough industry.

A week-long course at Trelawney Station near Tamworth saw 16 teenagers learn how to use a set of shears.

Tamworth High School student Jada Cannon was one of them.

Jada Cannon is among several teens who learnt to shear over the five-day course. (ABC New England North West: Lara Webster)

"I have found this week pretty good [and] it's very exciting," the 15-year-old said.

Ms Cannon said she enjoyed shearing and found it fun to do the "back of the bellies".

"The way it [the industry] functions, the factories and how it goes through the processors, it's been fascinating," she said.

Looking to the future

Shearing alongside Jada was 16-year-old Peel High School student Riley Givney.

At just 16 years old, Riley thinks shearing is something he would like to do.  (ABC New England North West: Lara Webster)

He said he was keen to take up shearing, even on a part-time basis. 

"One day I would like to own sheep, and just to learn how to crutch and clean up the back of a sheep is good.

"I can say that I can crutch a sheep pretty decently, but I am still on the edge of being able to shear a full sheep."

Riley Givney developed his shearing skills during the course but wants to learn more. (ABC New England North West: Lara Webster)

Teacher 'blown away' by interest

Peel High School agriculture teacher Ben Bowman said he had been impressed by the students' enthusiasm.

He said they began to show even more interest as they gained confidence working with the stock.  

"They want to learn the skills. They want to learn how to do it."

Agriculture teacher Ben Bowman says the students showed great enthusiasm for the wool industry. (ABC New England North West: Lara Webster)

Retention the big issue

Inverell-based shearer and trainer Ross Thompson was on hand to instruct the teenagers.

After watching Australia's pool of shearers dry up over the decades, he was excited to see some young, keen, faces.

Australia is suffering from a shrinking pool of experienced shearers. (ABC New England North West: Lara Webster)

Mr Thompson believed training schools were helping to attract people to the industry but more needed to be done to retain shearers for the long-term.

"We lose a lot of our bread and butter workers to trades or mines and they don't end up staying in rural areas," he said. 

"A lot of modern people aren't used to going without wi-fi or phone service. 

"I haven't got a magic bullet answer but I think conditions, as well as respect and wages, are a part of that [answer]."

Mr Thompson also believed providing new shearers with consistent work close to home would help retain them longer.

"If they can find somewhere they can work at least nine months of the year close by to their families, that is another thing," he said.

Shearer Ross Thompson believes more could be done to retain shearers. (ABC New England North West: Lara Webster)
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