BENDIGO TAFE will be the first Victorian TAFE to offer a micro-brewing course to students.
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From February 2021, the school will offer the Certificate III in Food Processing (Micro-Brewing).
Food and Fibre Centre of Excellence director Nicole Broe said the 12-month course would connect students with industry.
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"We identified a gap in the market," she said. "We worked with some industry partners to see that they didn't have entry level qualifications coming in.
"So this will be a real entry level qualification into the brewery industry."
Prior to this course, Victorian students could only gain a brewing qualification at a university.
Ms Broe said Bendigo TAFE students would be able to get hands-on experience through the new Bendigo Brewing company.
Director Trevor Birks said the brewery - which would be located at the old Palmer's Gym site on McCrae Street - was keen to work with students.
"As part of any successful industry, we need qualified, skilled labour," he said. "There has been exponential growth in the craft brewing industry in Australia over the past few years.
"And that's seeing a lot of home brewers go from home brewing direct to commercial brewing. We feel there is a need to have that skilled labour in the industry to ensure quality of product."
Ms Broe said there would be 20 spots open in the new course in 2021, with the potential for more spaces in the coming years.
"The intention is to work with our industry partners to offer real life experiences for our students through work placements, as well as the on-campus science stuff they will need to do," she said.
"The feedback we have had from the community and industry is that this is a real need, and we've had lots of interest so far."
Ms Broe said more information about the course could be found at bendigotafe.edu.au
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