A new review commissioned by the Andrews Labor Government will identify how TAFEs can continue to meet the changing needs of the local agricultural industry and provide exciting opportunities to Victorians.

The thriving Victorian agriculture sector produces more than $14.9 billion worth of meat, milk, and produce – supporting a $41.5 billion food processing industry.

The sector is especially important to regional Victoria and directly employs about 145,000 people. It also supports many more jobs, including in logistics, transport and advisory services.

The Labor Government today launched The Future of Agriculture Training in Victoria Review to ensure local TAFE training continues to attract and prepare students for the demands of the evolving industry.

It will be led by Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle who went to TAFE and owned and operated a family sheep farm in Ararat for more than a decade.

The review aims to:

• Ensure agriculture training remains innovative and relevant
• Understand the factors involved in student choice
• Ensure that TAFE and Learn Locals can continue to be at the centre of agricultural training
• Explore how TAFE training can continue meeting the needs of employers and students

It will involve extensive consultation with industry, employers, TAFE and other training providers and students to develop a series of key recommendations to ensure the sector has the training needed to grow the agricultural industry.

More information here: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/department/Pages/agriculture-review.aspx

The review complements existing work by the Labor Government in bolstering agricultural courses through its Free TAFE initiative. This work will also support the rollout of the $50 million Agricultural College Modernisation Fund investment in the Victorian Budget 2020/21. 

The Labor Government has made a record $3.2 billion investment to rebuild TAFE and support universities and higher education to ensure Victorians have access to high quality education and rewarding career pathways.

The 2021/22 Victorian Budget includes a $383.8 million investment in the sector to ensure more Victorians get the training they need for in-demand jobs.

Quotes attributable to Minster for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney

“We want to continue providing the best quality training and career pathways to Victorians – and support industry by meeting skills needs – which is what this review is all about.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas

“We are positioning our agriculture sector as a career of choice and giving the next generation of farmers the skills they need to tackle challenges of the future.”

 Quotes attributable to Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle

“As a former farm owner and TAFE student, this is a really exciting opportunity to use my experience to help shape the future of an industry that means so much to our community and to our whole state.”