http://www.vfitb.com.au/news Victorian Food Industry Training Board Latest News Fri, 18 May 2012 00:30:55 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en From the May MINTRAC Newsletter: MINTRAC is currently brokering several programs under the National Workforce Development Fund (NWDF), through both AgriFood Skills Australia and Manufacturing Skills Australia. Between now and the end of 2013, the current programs are running: Advanced Diploma in Meat Processing (10 students) Diploma in Meat Processing (34 students) Certificate IV in ... http://www.vfitb.com.au/news/?p=2174 The following changes to the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program will be implemented from 1 July 2012: changes to the standard employer incentives for employers of existing workers undertaking an Australian Apprenticeship (at the Certificate III level and above) in an occupation not listed on the *National Skills Needs List The following ... http://www.vfitb.com.au/news/?p=2158 From The Age website, 12 May 2012 "VICTORIA could miss out on $435 million in federal funding for the TAFE sector if the state government's changes threaten national skills reforms. Federal Tertiary Education Minister Chris Evans has called on his state counterpart, Peter Hall, to provide urgent assurances about Victoria's TAFE cuts ... http://www.vfitb.com.au/news/?p=2153 From the Australian Food News website: The Victorian Government announced this week in its annual Budget that it has set aside AU$61.4 million of funding in this year’s State Budget for the food and agriculture industries. Revealing the State Budget for 2012/13 on Tuesday 2 May 2012, the Victorian Government outlined a ... http://www.vfitb.com.au/news/?p=2144 From the Australian Food News website: Australian supermarket chain Coles has announced that, as of May 2012, all of its private label frozen vegetable products will be sourced from Australian farmers and packed by the Australian based food processing Simplot factories. Coles merchandise director John Durkan said the move makes Coles’ private ... http://www.vfitb.com.au/news/?p=2141 As part of the Victorian State Budget, the state government recently announced changes to the Vocational Education and Training system, in particular with fees and funding, improving quality and changes to industry engagement. Below are copies of relevant documents for your perusal: Refocusing Vocationing in Victoria [PDF: 770KB] Fact Sheet: Refocusing Vocational Training ... http://www.vfitb.com.au/news/?p=2135 Andrew Pajic, Bakers Delight, and Andrew O’Hara, Phillipa’s Bakery/BIAV President, strongly support industry take up of the new Certificate IV in Advanced Baking The Higher Education and Skills Group have approved Version 2 of the FDF10 Food Processing purchasing guide, and it is now available from the Training Support Network website. From ... http://www.vfitb.com.au/news/?p=2119 From the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Victorian Government (media release): From Monday 26 March, Skills Victoria is to be known as the Higher Education and Skills Group. This change is due to the new central office structure for the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, which went live ... http://www.vfitb.com.au/news/?p=2108 From the Australian Food News website, 30 April, Australia’s non-dairy milk segment is set to receive a shake-up this week when a new brand of almond milk ‘Almond Breeze’ hits the shelves in over 700 Coles supermarkets across the country. Roger Ringwood, Country Director for Almond Breeze said, “The many Australian consumers ... http://www.vfitb.com.au/news/?p=2094 From the Australian Food News website 16 April 2012: Almost a third of eggs labelled as “free range” in Australia are produced in conditions that breach the egg industry’s own regulations, according to new figures published by the Australian Egg Corporation Limited (AECL). A media statement published on the AECL’s website states ... http://www.vfitb.com.au/news/?p=2078