Fasttrak Projects: Australian Shearing Industry
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Project Brief
Shearers can move up to 14 tonnes of sheep a day, sweating up to four litres every hour. In terms of heart rate and energy expenditure, they use up much more energy that a top professional in any football code (21000kj vs 17000kj). And they do this every day!
Despite this, there was no existing information for shearers in terms of managing injuries, recovering from work and improving performance. Fasttak and strategic partner Michael Lawrance & Associates developed a simple manual (1999) and then a booklet and dvd package (2007) to address these issues.
Project Outline and Solutions
Interviews and focus group meeting were conducted with shearers in both Australia and New Zealand. It was clear that there was a real desire for information, but only if it was simple, practical, and easy to implement. It was clear that anything that could help reduce injuries and increase performance (and pay) was going to be well received.
But shearers didn’t want to see exercises being performed by muscle bound gym junkies with fake tans!
It was decided that a package would be put together that would include:
A small but durable Manual
This manual had to be simple and hardy, as it was likely to travel under all kinds of conditions. The information was presented in simple fashion, making use of many pictures and diagrams to demonstrate exercises, stretches and concepts.
All demonstrations were given by shearers and rural workers, performed in work type settings, particularly the shearing shed.
A DVD that inserted into the cover of the book
Most shearers had access to a TV and DVD player at regular intervals during itinerant work, so the DVD was developed to cover content not suited to the manual.
Exercises are always best learned with video rather than pictures, so all exercises were covered with full description and explanation. Shearers were also able to watch short information clips on areas such as Strength Training, Aerobic Fitness, Flexibility and Recovery Methods.
Expert advice from professional footballers, sport scientists and runners such as Steve Monaghetti was also given.
All of the contents were included in durable plastic packing, which included some physio tubing for the injury reduction exercises, making it a complete resource for sheares.
Sample Content
High Performance - Introduction
High Performance - Skill
Strength Training advice for shearers
Recovery Methods for Shearers
The Outcome
The first booklet ran out of print. A second re-run of the book and DVD has been necessary due to high demand. We have received fantastic support and feedback from the shearing industry, and feel that the product was ideally suited to the target audience. The package has found its way to every state in Australia and also to New Zealand.
This product was developed in association with Michael Lawrance & Associates (Occupational Therapy), exercise scientist David Stuart and physiotherapist Robyn Williams. Original research leading to the production was carried out at the University of Ballarat.