The Werribee Regional Agriculture Pathways program will benefit from a $189,500 state government grant to introduce Wyndham and Hobsons Bay students to modern agricultural techniques.
Education minister Natalie Hutchins visited Velisha National Farms in Werribee South to announce grants
will be awarded to 43 school projects that boost student pathways into the sector, as part of the $5.5 million Secondary Schools Agriculture Fund.
“This is all about backing our students – who are the future of agriculture and the next generation of farmers,” Ms Hutchins said.
“This funding will help thousands of young people get the skills and the experience they need for a career in the sector and set them on the path to a bright future.”
Around $1 million in funding will also allow tech schools to invest in new technology and resources to deliver online and outreach agricultural technology programs that meet the needs of industry as farming practices evolve.
The funding will include supporting agriculture camps at the Wyndham Tech School.
The Secondary Schools Agriculture Fund forms part of the Labor government’s $50 million investment in the Agricultural College Modernisation Program, seeking to help more students pursue careers in agriculture and meet the growing demands of the growing farm, food and fibre sector.
“These grants will provide a huge benefit – supporting more students with ambitions to embark on a career in agriculture and help them develop the skills need to get into the sector,” Agriculture minister Gayle Tierney said.
From 2023, more Victorian schools will provide access to a set of 12 core VET pathways for students. Agriculture and Environment is one of the core pathways, which reflect areas of high jobs growth and the diverse reasons students undertake VET.
