Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan and Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards officially opened the $7.8 million facility.

The Food and Fibre Centre of Excellence is set to enhance the delivery of animals, plants and sciences training across Central Victoria.

It will provide training in food and fibre production, animal care management, plants and landscapes, primary food processing, environment and national resource management and other related applied sciences.

Previously, Bendigo TAFE has opened the Automotive, and Health and Community centres of excellence. 

The centres are able to deliver training to vocational students, apprentices and industry groups across metropolitan and regional Victoria.

Bendigo TAFE chief exectutive Trevor Schwenke said the Food and Fibre centre would widen the range of course options for students.

“The Food and Fibre Centre of Excellence will enrich Bendigo TAFE’s current delivery by providing learners with more course options and access to industry simulated training facilities and equipment, including a multi-use live working hub, greenhouses and veterinary nursing surgery and clinic,” Mr Schwenke said.

The new state-of-the-art centre features specialist training facilities combined with flexible teaching and learning spaces, in an open and inviting environment, complemented by greenery.

It is located at Bendigo TAFE’s Charleston Road campus accessed via a new landscaped entrance off Lansell Street.

Pre-existing food and fibre training facilities on campus were refurbished and are now linked to the new building by a multi-functional amphitheatre.

Mr Schwenke said Bendigo TAFE had worked with a number of industry partners in developing the Food and Fibre centre of excellence.

“At the beginning of our planning for the new centre we established a collective of representatives from TAFEs and universities,” he said.

“We’ve been working closely together to share our expertise, research and industry insights, with the aim to improve and expand the training and career opportunities for the food and fibre sector across Victoria.”

Ongoing collaboration with collaborators will ensure the training will meet the industry’s emerging needs.

“The ongoing collaboration with industry ensures our training is designed and delivered to meet the emerging needs of industry to drive productivity and improve workforce development in the food and fibre sector,” he said. “Plus, it ensures that our graduates are job ready.”