FOREWORD THINKING WITH MARK UNWIN, CEO
Sports turf industry showing its true character by standing tall
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cclaimed American author Maya Angelou once wrote, “I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.” In some of the rare quiet moments over the past eight weeks, I have found myself reflecting on all that has happened in such a short amount of time. The circumstances our members, industry, our association, families and friends – in fact, almost every area of our lives – have faced in the last few months have challenged us. And challenged us greatly. Yet the signs that our turf community would meet these challenges were common and consistent. We witnessed leaders showing care and compassion for their teams, turf managers reaching out to each other to offer a hand, picking up the phone and having a chat with those doing it tough. We saw trade partners reaching out to offer support wherever possible which yet again showed me the true value and nature of the industry we work in. It also highlighted to me that while times were challenging, and will likely continue to be for some time, we wouldn’t be reduced by it. I continue to be impressed with the way our industry has pulled together, knowing that our actions can make a small but meaningful difference in the support we show our colleagues, encouragement for our teams or to the mental health of our peers who may have been doing it tough as the country seemingly ground to a halt. Additionally, I am also grateful for our association staff who have been flexible in the face of one of the most significant tests our industry has experienced. While many grappled with course closures, standing down of teams, uncertainty in hours or variations in roles, the ASTMA team has willingly been active in contacting members, following up on the literally hundreds of requests for support, facilitating discussions with our partners and at the same time working through challenges of our own such as shifting work practices or the cancellation of the 2020 conference.
ADVOCACY FOCUS Many would be aware of the increase in advocacy of turf management needs at all levels of government we have undertaken in the last few months. This has highlighted the work that sports turf managers undertake, the value they contribute to sport and recreation and also continued to discuss our concerns relating to the skills shortage across our 4
sports turf management as a career, is the Office of the Victorian Skills Commissioner (OVSC). The OVSC works with employers, industry peak bodies and government to align training and advocacy with the needs of the industry, ensuring the training requirements of students and employers are met and that skills outcomes support the government’s objectives for skills requirements, productivity and growth. Together, the OVSC and the ASTMA set about developing a programme of work to assist in establishing and growing pathways to ensure that the available options were supported for people to enter sports turf management training and apprenticeships and then transition from training into work. We were pleased to announce recently the launch of the first of these initiatives to promote sports turf management as a career, with the release of an advocacy video that will be supported by additional work with schools, career and workplace advisors and vocational career agencies in the months ahead.
GET CERTIFIED
A new advocacy video jointly produced by the Office of the Victorian Skills Commissioner and the ASTMA is being used to actively promote sports turf management as a rewarding career path
industry. Discussion of these issues have put our industry, and members, in front of key decision-makers and Ministers who were previously unaware of the level of work involved in the trade and also have the ability to support our desire for change. One state department that has picked up the need quickly, and identified the ability to work with the ASTMA to educate and promote
AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 22.3
In perhaps one of the largest changes to the future of our industry, mid-May saw the ASTMA launch a professional industry certification programme for sports turf managers, recognising our leading turf managers and encouraging investment in education and continual professional development. The ASTMA Certification Program is a key initiative in our commitment to maintaining and improving the quality, recognition and professionalism of the industry, in addition to promoting the industry and its professionals to the public. The early take-up of the programme has been outstanding, highlighting the large number of turf professionals that are dedicated to their trade and the universal nature of the skills and knowledge within our industry. In this edition (page 28) we look in-depth at how the new ASTMA Certification Program works and list those early adopters who have completed certification and are driving the initiative. In addition to this, the ASTMA has launched a series of 45-minute live webinars with a range of local and international turf experts. The first seminars were held in late June with the likes of Dr Frank Rossi and Mark Carter hosting, with further webinars planned weekly over the coming months. These webinars are free for all ASTMA members and you can register through the ASTMA website – www.agcsa.com.au.