The Australian dairy industry is continuing to amass resources dedicated to dairy-related training with the announcement that South West TAFE is to join forces with the National Centre for Dairy Education (NCDEA).

In what industry leaders say is the NCDEA’s most significant development since it was formed just over a year ago, the partnership with South West TAFE has become an important step toward creating a single focus for dairy education in Victoria.

Dairy Australia and Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE (GOTAFE) formed the NCDEA with the goal of putting dairy education and training under one umbrella to ensure it was relevant to the industry and of consistently high quality.

The partnership, which takes effect on July 1, signalled a major milestone in the work for a co-ordinated national dairy education framework said Dairy Australia managing director Mike Ginnivan.

“This is a landmark decision, and it’s a good example of the industry working with education providers for mutual benefit. It means we’re receiving the maximum benefit from our resources,” Dr Ginnivan said.

The finer details of the partnership were being worked out by both organisations, but it had already been agreed that teachers from South West TAFE were to join the NCDEA team, said GOTAFE chief executive officer Peter Ryan.

South West TAFE chief executive Joe Piper said the partnership meant that students and farmers in South West Victoria would receive education and training that better catered to the region’s needs.

“South west Victoria is responsible for 20 per cent of the nation’s milk production, so it’s vital that the education and training for the regional dairy industry is relevant and of an excellent standard. This partnership will ensure that,” Mr Piper said.

Westvic Dairy chairwoman Roma Britnell said the region’s first-rate industry needed a first-rate education system.

“Westvic Dairy, the regional extension and education committee and the United Dairyfarmers of Victoria have all pushed hard for this to happen and we are confident of the best possible result for education in dairying,” Mrs Britnell said.

Institute for Education Steering Committee chairman David Karpin said the work to build a national dairy education framework was continuing.

“We’re working toward similar collaboration with education providers in other states. It’s an ongoing task which is of benefit to the whole industry,” Dr Karpin said.

ENDS

For further information contact: Sid Pickering on (03) 9694 3894, or 0418 175 611, or This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it < This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it '; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text1033 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //-->\n This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it >