How to become a Cheesemaker
Cheesemakers make and supervise the making of cheese.
Personal requirements for a Cheesemaker
- Good communication skills
- Enjoy practical and manual activities
- High standard of personal hygiene
- Able to supervise other workers.
Education & Training for a Cheesemaker
To become a cheesemaker, you usually have to complete a traineeship. Entry requirements may vary, but employers generally require Year 10 and some prefer Year 12.
Duties & Tasks of a Cheesemaker
Cheesemakers:
- Operate a wide range of mechanical equipment, often from a sophisticated control room
- Monitor the production of cheese using process control and recording systems
- Supervise and carry out the cleaning, sanitation and preparation of equipment.
Tasks
- Moves products from production lines into storage and shipping areas.
- Operates heating, chilling, freezing and pasteurising plant.
- Regulates speed of conveyors and associated equipment.
- Packages and bottles products.
- Monitors product quality before packaging by inspecting, taking samples and adjusting treatment conditions when necessary.
- Cleans equipment, pumps, hoses, storage tanks, vessels and floors, and maintains infestation control programmes.
- Weighs, measures, mixes, and processes ingredients.
Working conditions for a Cheesemaker
In small factories that use traditional methods there is a lot of skilled manual work. Cheesemakers are often required to work shifts.
Employment Opportunities for a Cheesemaker
Cheesemakers work in cheesemaking factories, which are usually located in regional dairy areas. Some small factories are located in outer-metropolitan suburbs. Opportunities may exist for self-employment usually in small, boutique cheesemaking establishments.
Average age
42 years
Future Growth
Strong
Gender Share
23% female
Average full-time
43 hours
Weekly Pay
$1,208
Skill level rating
Entry level
Unemployment
Average unemployment
Full-Time Share
81% Full-Time
Employment Size
4,000 workers
Employment by state
ACT: 0.2%
NSW: 18.2%
NT: 0.3%
QLD: 9.1%
SA: 5.2%
TAS: 9.1%
VIC: 53.8%
WA: 4.2%
Age brackets
15-19: 2.5%
20-24: 9%
25-34: 21.8%
35-44: 23.9%
45-54: 25.2%
55-59: 10%
60-64: 5.4%
65 and Over: 2.2%
Education level
Advanced Diploma/Diploma: 6.6%
Bachelor degree: 6.1%
Certificate III/IV: 25.9%
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate: 1.4%
Year 10 and below: 25.1%
Year 11: 10.6%
Year 12: 24.3%
