An agriculture qualification designed to drive productivity improvements and maintain global competitiveness in the Tasmanian dairy industry was launched at AGFEST on Friday.
A partnership between TAFE Tasmania and the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia (NCDEA), the initiative will ensure quality and excellence in Tasmanian dairy enterprises and raise the industry’s public profile.
Tasmanian Minister for Primary Industries, David Llewellyn, says that the partnership takes Australia one step closer to a single national framework for dairy education and training.
It also signals a new direction for the delivery of dairy education in Tasmania.
“The aim of this initiative is to set new levels of excellence in dairy education and training to grow and develop the industry,” Mr Llewellyn said.
The qualification provides a career path recognised nationally as suitable and relevant to the dairy industry.
Dairy Tasmania chair, Bob Bush, said, "Dairy farming is becoming a far more sophisticated and complex business and our training programs must keep pace with this.
"For the industry to continue to grow, improved access to good people and adequately trained staff is vital.”
Dairy Australia managing director, Dr Mike Ginnivan, said, "The industry’s greatest asset is the knowledge and expertise of its people.
"This partnership will help protect and grow that asset well into the future.
"The initiative is industry-driven and controlled.
"Training will support the aims of the industry and the content will be of a world-class standard."
SOURCE: National dairy news FarmOnline