Wool Classer - Career Advice - Environments

Wool classers are in charge of grouping fleece into categories including length and thickness, quality, colour, strength and cleanliness. FutureGrowthModerate

Wool classers may also work as wool valuers. The job of the wool valuer is to assess or estimate the value of products so these may be sold.

Wool classers are in demand during the shearing season, but must be willing to follow work during the quieter periods.

ANZSCO ID: 399917

Knowledge, skills and attributes

Wool Classers need to be:

physically fit
good with their hands
have normal eyesight (may be corrected)
possess good communication skills
willing to travel
able to work as part of a team

At work
(Source: ABC)

Duties and Tasks

Generally Wool Classers can:

grade wool according to length, colour, evenness, burr content, strength, quality, fibre thickness, breed and colour
places sorted wool into appropriate bins
oversee the preparation of wool for sale and ensure it meets industry agreed standards
advise on sheep classing and selection
supervise workers involved in wool handling
oversee the pressing, weighing and branding of wool bales by the wool pressers
operates wool-weighing, sampling and wool-blending machinery
keeps records of the wool bales pressed
ensure accurate records are kept on wool qualities and advise on laboratory test results
carries out minor maintenance on wool-weighing, sampling and wool-blending machines
work with wool brokers and advisory institutions
implement quality management systems
may be responsible for wool shed management.

Working conditions

Most classers work throughout Australia - in particular, in the agricultural regions. Most are males but there is nothing to stop interested females entering this field. You can look forward to the prospect of being on your feet for most of the day and having to regularly lift large amounts of wool or skin. Wool Classers are pretty much on the go throughout the day.

Tools and Technologies

Sirolan Fleecescan is a laser based product that will test and classify up to 100 fleeces an hour. A COP (Cost of Production) Calculator may also be used to track quality and cost of wool production over a number of years. In general, however, a Wool Classer will rely on their experience and sense of sight and touch to determine wool strength, wool crimp and colour and the overall quality of each fleece.

Education and training/entrance requirements

To become a wool classer you usually need to complete a traineeship. The Australian wool classer traineeship usually takes nine months to complete.

Did You Know?

Mean fibre diameter is a measurement in micrometres (microns) of the average diameter of wool fibres in a sale lot. Fibre diameter is responsible for 70-80 per cent of the greasy wool price over the long term.

Fine and superfine wool production has increased as a percentage of the Australian wool clip. Australia dominates the supply of fine wool to the international trade, accounting for over 90 per cent of global production of Merino wool of 19.5 micron and finer.

Global demand for finer wool has increased. Manufacturers and processors must source more fine wool to satisfy the global consumers' demand for lightweight garments with next-to-skin comfort, particularly in women's wear. (Source: AWI)