TasTAFE’s new Agricultural Training Centre of Excellence has officially been launched to develop a skilled workforce to support the State’s growing agriculture industry.
The cutting-edge facility will train TasTAFE students and apprentices in various qualifications and short courses to meet Tasmania’s agricultural industry’s future demands.
Minister for Skills, Training and Workforce Growth Felix Ellis said the Agricultural Training Centre of Excellence at TasTAFE’s Freer Farm features a modern learning centre and the most up-to-date equipment and technology to assist training and puts the learner at the centre.
“This brand-new Centre is equipped with the latest technology and means the next generation of ag workers get the training they need to be part of the workforce of the future,” Minister Ellis stated
According to the Minister, the centre enables students to transition effortlessly from the classroom to actual on-farm study.
“There has been $6.5 million in funding committed for the Agricultural Training Centre of Excellence project, which has also supported the purchase of a range of state-of-the-art equipment including a new tractor fitted with automated tractor guidance technology and a new automated cattle crush,” he added.
“The next phase of the project will include new and upgraded farm infrastructure such as stockyards and irrigation, precision agriculture equipment, protected cropping tunnels, farm biosecurity and training simulators, supporting research and innovation,” he continued.
Minister Ellis said the Tasmanian Government is developing a future workforce that is skilled, innovative, and ready to embrace change, which is critical to Tasmania’s agricultural future.
