Bendigo TAFE is interested in being part of the UNESCO city of gastronomy bid, with the City of Greater Bendigo open to discussions with hospitality providers.
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On Sunday, the council’s regional sustainability manager Trevor Budge used a Bendigo Writers Festival session on the future of regional food security to provide an update on UNESCO plans.
He noted discussions with the William Angliss Institute, a specialist training provider for food, tourism, hospitality and events.
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Mr Budge was keen for discussions with Bendigo TAFE.
He said that hospitality offerings in Bendigo had changed over 10 years, with less offerings overall at higher education providers.
Yet recent research conducted with local restaurants had uncovered a strong desire for more training.
“At the end of the day, the reason we are raising this (UNESCO recognition) is to increase the opportunities for what we can support for TAFE and other providers, to support what is a growing industry,” Mr Budge said.
Bendigo TAFE communications manager Troy Robbins said the group was forming a working group to consider how it could respond to the UNESCO bid.
Move the above slider up and down for a before and after view of redesigned Bendigo TAFE premises at McCrae and Chapel Street.
It came at an opportune time, Mr Robbins said, with a rebuild allowing Bendigo TAFE to think about how its new facilities would set it apart from others.
“There’s more to come as the campus revitialisation project’s plans are announced. It’s the single biggest investment in the TAFE for over 10 years. It’s $59.9 million and hospitality falls into that space with courses that will benefit on campus,” he said.
Senior culinary teacher Nicole Mynard said Bendigo TAFE currently ran hospitality training with for to 100 apprentices and trainees.
Its focus had shifted in recent times away from running training programs on campus towards on-the-job experiences.
“It goes in cycles, where employers want a focus on-the-job, then five to 10 years later they want it in the classroom again,” she said.
Bendigo TAFE was also preparing to start cooking classes this week for grade six students and also ran a program for male carers.
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Tom O'Callaghan
I grew up in Bendigo and I want to tell your stories.
I grew up in Bendigo and I want to tell your stories.
