How much further from the truth can that myth be?  I was recently asked what learning meant to me. An interesting question and one I have pondered since.  To me, learning is the opportunity to grow and develop, to enable greater levels of self-esteem, to raise standards. Others in the group at the time thought learning was about empowerment, about providing opportunities, acquiring new knowledge, learning new behaviours, skills and values, and changing behaviour as a result of experience, an opportunity for businesses to improve and save money.  So why should that be reserved for young people?  My mother-in-law is 83, and reads the newspaper from cover to cover every day, does the crossword, and reads numerous books each week. Needless to say, she is young at heart and quick of mind, someone to be admired.

So where does that leave all of us? When I first started with NZTR just over two years ago, we provided training for apprentice jockeys. By its very nature, we were only providing training for young people. During that time we have extended the training we offer to include stable practice and stable management qualifications, both of which have no age restriction.

For young people, either as new entrants to the industry, or those planning to join the industry, there are a number of ways to progress and to make a career in the industry. Our learning programmes provide a series of stages that enable growth and development. A young person entering the industry can begin with an introductory course (often provided through schools), then undertake a stable practice qualification before going on to the stable management qualification which helps them work toward becoming a stable foreman or a trainer, for example. Ultimately though, training isn’t just for young people; it is for all of us! Whilst those of us who have established a career may not want the staged development and learning provided for new entrants, we can still benefit from learning that is directly related to what we do.

NZTR has been actively marketing the national certificate Stable Practice Level 3 and National Certificate Stable Management Level 4 in the North Island recently, and will be launching into the South Island soon. We have been approaching licensed stablehands, regardless of age.  I took a call recently from someone who had worked in the industry for over 25 years as a stablehand, and had never done any formal training. She was delighted to finally have the opportunity not only to formalise what she already knew about her job, and the industry, but to have the recognition of a qualification for the work she had been doing. That is fantastic, and i applaud her willingness and enthusiasm for wanting to learn.

Learning applies at all levels, and can be a useful tool for many of us. NZTR is working closely with ACC at the moment to establish a short training programme that covers different aspects of occupational safety and health. The aim is to align the learning process with industry to enable the thoroughbred code to be included in the workplace Safety Discount Scheme when that is reviewed next year. Hopefully in this instance, the direct result of learning will be a discount on levies. 

In the future learning will be closely aligned with licensing. There are plans to introduce training for all new licensed trainers, and for new approved employers. Development of these programmes will be commencing before the end of the year, using industry people to develop materials that are specific to our industry. Our aim is to make the training as relevant and practical as possible, to support and help grow the industry as a whole.  As we come to the end of one year and start to plan for another, give serious consideration to the benefits not only to yourself, and to your staff and your business, and think about enrolling in one of our training programmes early next year.  On closing, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge everyone who has been involved in training within the thoroughbred code throughout the year, from students and employers, to tutors and field staff, and members of the national and regional training committees. Thank you for you commitment and dedication throughout the year, and i look forward to a busy and challenging year ahead in 2010.

Best wishes to everyone for a happy, safe Christmas, and a prosperous year in 2010.