Field          Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Registration of skill standard and review of Wool Handling unit standards

Subfield	Domain	ID
Wool Harvesting	Wool Handling	20115, 20116, 20117, 20316, 31978, 31979

The Muka Tangata – People Food and Fibre Workforce Development Council has reviewed the unit standards listed above and developed one skill standard listed below. Responsibility for this application has been transferred from Muka Tangata WDC to Food and Fibre Industry Skills Board to reflect VET reforms

Date new versions published February 2026

Planned review date December 2030

Summary

Muka Tangata Workforce Development Council completed this scheduled 5-yearly review in October 2025 after an extensive bi-monthly consultation from March 2025 with industry experts and support from key stakeholders across the wool harvesting and handling sector.

It was decided to expire five under-used Level 3 unit standards, which had been superseded by newer skill standards developed in 2024 in separate micro-credential and skill standard development for Wool Handling and Wool Pressing domains at Level 3. One further skill standard was developed at Level 4 in this scheduled review, replacing a current Level 4 unit standard, to better meet the needs of leading wool handlers for a Level 4 pathway in managing wool preparation in a wool harvesting operation. This replacement skill standard included an increased credit value to reflect the additional focus on leadership and management of the wool handling team in a wool harvesting operation. Industry experts considered the time required to learn, develop, and put into practice the skills required to achieve the new skill would be a minimum 200 hours over an 8 - 10 week season and that 20 credits was therefore an appropriate allocation.

Main changes

· 5 unit standards have been expired due to no or very little usage in five years.

· Unit standard 31978 has been replaced with skill standard 41134.

Category C and D unit standards will expire at the end of December 2027

Detailed list of unit standards – classification, title, level, and credits

All changes are in bold.

Key to review category
A	Dates changed, but no other changes are made - the new version of the standard carries the same ID and a new version number
B	Changes made, but the overall outcome remains the same - the new version of the standard carries the same ID and a new version number
C	Major changes that necessitate the registration of a replacement standard with a new ID
D	Standard will expire and not be replaced

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries > Wool Harvesting >Wool Handling

ID	Title	Level	Credit	Review Category
21115	Handle the wool clip at the board	3	10	D
21116	Prepare for and press wool	3	20	D
21117	Describe wool clip preparation and the sale of wool process	3	5	D
20316	Handle, sort and prepare strong, fine and mid micron wool clip in the wool harvesting industry	3	15	D
31978 41134	Grade wool clip in a wool harvesting operation Manage wool preparation in a wool harvesting operation	4 4	10 20	C
31979	Assist with wool harvesting tasks in the woolshed	2	10	D