Regional and rural workers in north-eastern Victoria will benefit from upgraded learning facilities, thanks to a $2 million investment by the Victorian Government.
Victorian Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education Gayle Tierney announced the funding for Dookie Agricultural College, which will pay for essential upgrades to accommodation and training facilities.
The investment will allow the University of Melbourne to revamp its Dookie campus, including upgrades to ageing living quarters providing modern facilities for students and an increase in campus capacity with enrollments expected to grow significantly over the next ten years.
The project will include much needed modernisation to teaching labs and will ensure that students have access to high-quality teaching facilities, which will enhance laboratory science subjects offered at Dookie.
The University of Melbourne will also fund the animal handling facilities to support teaching and research activities.
The Dookie Agricultural College is a focal point for key research, teaching and technology development that is helping to shape the future of agriculture in Australia.
The funding boost is part of a wider investment of $6 million in funding for agricultural colleges as part of the Growing Victoria agricultural industry initiative, with South West TAFE’s Glenormiston campus and Longerenong College also receiving $2 million each.
The demand for skilled workers will increase as our economy recovers from the coronavirus pandemic. That’s why the Victorian Government is investing in sustainable skills development to support the agricultural sector.
Source: Vic Government