Wool Classer
Tasks & duties
Wool classers may do some or all of the following:
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discuss requirements with the farmer before shearing starts
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sort wool into groups to produce lines that have uniform colour, length, fault, and fibre diameter, and keep wool breeds separate
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ensure wool is free from contamination (such as black fibres, twine, and other foreign objects)
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ensure wool is sorted into the correct categories and placed in the correct bin (a cage for collecting similar wool types)
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operate and maintain wool-weighing, sampling and wool-blending machinery
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supervise the pressing and branding of wool bales
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keep records of the wool bales pressed
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be responsible for woolshed management
Skills & knowledge
Wool classers need to have:
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knowledge of different wool grades and sheep breeds
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knowledge of market requirements for wool and wool industry standards
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knowledge of wool-handling and shed procedures
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knowledge of how to operate wool presses and other machinery
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wool-evaluation skills
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good organisational and communication skills
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good record-keeping and data entry skills
Entry requirements
To become a wool classer you need to be registered with the Woolclassers' Association of Australia.
A Certificate in Wool Technology is recommended because that virtually guarantees registration.
A driver's licence is also useful.
Secondary education
There are no specific secondary education requirements for this job; however, year 12 Certificate of Education or Higher School Certificate equivalent is recommended.
Training on the job
Wool classers gain many skills on the job.
Registration
Wool classers need to be registered with the Woolclassers' Association of Australia, which ensures quality standards are being met.
Useful experience
Useful experience for wool classers includes:
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work in shearing sheds
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work on a sheep farm
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wool processing or wool handling
Related courses
Wool and Fibre Harvesting
Wool and Fibre Science
For more information, please refer to myfuture.
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