Archive for February, 2012

Saving Dollars and Saving the Environment Final Invitation to Participate in 2012

Monday, February 27th, 2012

It’s not too late to join 12 Victorian companies in their 2012 quest to better understand their site energy consumption and explore innovative and effective consumption reduction options. And save money… you will also be providing our future mechanical and manufacturing engineers the benefit of invaluable experience that only live field work can provide.

Craigieburn Pool could save over $6K per annum, and reduce emissions by 236 tonnes per annum, based on part of their NORTH Link project outcomes.

Let the talented and passionate RMIT students solve some energy use issues. Food companies that have signed up in the past include Baxter Foods, Edlyn Foods, Ferguson Plarre Bakehouse, Fosters Brewing Group and the Original Juice Company. But the program is not just for food companies with manufacturers and organisations such as Melbourne Water, Melbourne Airport and Sutton Tools all being past beneficiaries of the program.
Already a number of companies including large multinationals and SMEs from food, dairy and other manufacturing areas have signed up for 2012.
The outstanding results that students can achieve can be seen in some 2011 examples:

Baxter Foods 90 tonnes of emission reduction Nearly $30K savings per annum Payback under 2 yrs
Dolphin 60 tonnes reduction per year $3K fuel savings per annum Payback under 3 yrs
Capral 4250 tonnes reduction $over 300K savings per year Payback 9 yrs

For more information or to participate in the program, please contact Mick Butera, Executive Director, NORTH Link (T) 03 9479 3337 m.butera@latrobe.edu.au

Plant sites across the state are eligible. Please circulate this invitation to relevant Plant and Operations Managers and Engineers. ORIGINAL STORY (16 January) http://www.vfitb.com.au/news/?p=1525

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$1 billion to help Australian manufacturing move to a cleaner future

Tuesday, February 21st, 2012

Media release The Hon Greg Combet AM MP, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Minister for Industry and Innovation
16 February 2012

The Gillard Government today launched $1 billion in funding for manufacturers to improve energy efficiency and reduce pollution.

The Clean Technology Investment Programs will provide grants to help manufacturers buy new plant and equipment which cuts their energy costs or reduces carbon pollution.

The Industry and Innovation Minister, Greg Combet, launched the $800 million Clean Technology Investment Program and the $200 million Clean Technology Food and Foundries Investment Program – part of the government’s ‘Clean Energy Future’ package.

They will support jobs and provide incentives for manufacturers to become more efficient, more competitive and more sustainable. Eligible manufacturers can apply for funding under the programs from today. Mr Combet also announced that the government would change co-contribution requirements to make the grant programs more attractive for small and medium-sized firms. Manufacturers with turnovers of less than $100 million requesting funding under $500,000 will now only have to match the government grants on a dollar for dollar basis.

Book now for Information Sessions:

Information sessions on the Clean Technology Programs will be held around Australia from next month. For more information visit www.ausindustry.gov.au or call the AusIndustry Hotline on 13 28 46. Click to read full Media Release.

Posted in Baking, Confectionery, Dairy, Food Processing, Meat Processing, Pharmaceuticals, VFITB General | No Comments »

Final Report of the Review of Funding for Schooling (Gonski Report)

Tuesday, February 21st, 2012

From the Federal Government’s website, February 2012

In 2010 the Australian Government commissioned a Review of Funding for Schooling. Chaired by David Gonski, the review panel received more than 7,000 submissions, visited 39 schools and consulted 71 key education groups across Australia. From the Executive Summary,

“In addition to declining performance across the board, Australia has a significant gap between its highest and lowest performing students. This performance gap is far greater in Australia than in many Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, particularly those with high-performing schooling systems. A concerning proportion of Australia’s lowest performing students are not meeting minimum standards of achievement. There is also an unacceptable link between low levels of achievement and educational disadvantage, particularly among students from low socio-economic and Indigenous backgrounds.

Funding for schooling must not be seen simply as a financial matter. Rather, it is about investing to strengthen and secure Australia’s future. Investment and high expectations must go hand in hand. Every school must be appropriately resourced to support every child and every teacher must expect the most from every child.”

Click to read the full report.

Posted in VFITB General | No Comments »

Increase in Australia’s milk production forecast to continue

Monday, February 20th, 2012

From the Australian Food News website, 15 February:

Dairy Australia’s latest forecast, released today, shows that Australia’s milk production is continuing to climb, with total output for 2011-12 forecast to be between 9.4 and 9.5 billion litres, up on last season’s total of 9.1 billion litres.
Dairy Australia’s Situation and Outlook report shows that Australia’s milk production was up 3.6 per cent on last season for the six months to December 2011, at 5.6 billion litres.Dairy Australia Manager, Strategy and Knowledge Joanne Bills said she expects the trend to continue. She said, “Generally favourable seasonal conditions, lower feed costs, good soil moisture levels and high water allocations should support profit margins and make this season one of consolidation for most dairy farmers in southern exporting regions.

“Northern and western Victoria, and southern NSW are enjoying the best conditions for many years, and Tasmanian production remains strong.”

Click to read the full article.

Posted in Dairy, Food Processing, VFITB General | No Comments »

Victoria’s Casey municipality “food security policy” initiative

Monday, February 20th, 2012

From the Australian Food News website, 14 February

One of Melbourne’s largest suburban municipalities, the City of Casey (which has a 250,000 population covering areas such as Berwick, Cranbourne, and Narre Warren South) in Melbourne’s South East, has just issued a Draft “Food Security Policy”. Casey Council is now seeking feedback from its residents.

The proposed Food Security Policy addresses five key areas in order to improve community food access.

The five key areas are:

develop food sensitive planning principles in urban design
support reduction and redistribution of food waste
strengthen community connectedness through supporting self-reliance of residents
strengthen inter-municipal and inter-scetoral partnerships in the south-east region to develop opportunities to secure local, affordable healthy food supplies
undertake and support advocacy to ensure the food security of Casey residents

To read the whole story click here

Posted in Food Processing, Meat Processing, VFITB General | No Comments »

North East tertiary education gets a $3.3 million boost from Victorian Coalition Government

Friday, February 17th, 2012

From the Victorian Government website:

inister for Higher Education and Skills Peter Hall and the Member for Shepparton and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Jeanette Powell today announced the Victorian Coalition Government was investing $3.3 million to boost participation rates in vocational and higher education and grow jobs in the state’s north east.

Mr Hall and Mrs Powell, speaking at Shepparton’s GOTAFE campus, said the state government funding would be directed to three innovative projects involving a consortium of universities and TAFE institutes.

“The Coalition Government will contribute $3.3 million as part of its $20 million Regional Partnerships Facilitation Fund to projects to increase participation in the region’s important food and dairy manufacturing industry and boost the number of local students, including indigenous and refugee students, in higher education and training,” Mr Hall said.

Mr Hall said the innovative projects included:

$2.2 million to a project to increase local access to higher education and training. The U2Uni project, being developed by Swinburne University and Mansfield Adult Continuing Education (MACE), will be delivered across 12 locations including Mansfield, Shepparton, Wodonga, Wangaratta and Benalla.

$650,000 to the Strengthening Regional Food and Dairy Manufacturing Education project involving GOTAFE and the University of Ballarat. The project will deliver tailored food science, technology and management programs for the dairy and food manufacturing industry through a range of certificate and diploma courses.

$468,000 to a project involving La Trobe University, GOTAFE, SuniTAFE and Bendigo TAFE to increase higher education participation among indigenous and refugee students.

Minister for Higher Education and Skills Peter Hall and the Member for Shepparton and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Jeanette Powell announced the Victorian Coalition Government was investing $3.3 million to boost participation rates in vocational and higher education and grow jobs in the state’s north east.

Mr Hall and Mrs Powell, speaking at Shepparton’s GOTAFE campus, said the state government funding would be directed to three innovative projects involving a consortium of universities and TAFE institutes.

“The Coalition Government will contribute $3.3 million as part of its $20 million Regional Partnerships Facilitation Fund to projects to increase participation in the region’s important food and dairy manufacturing industry and boost the number of local students, including indigenous and refugee students, in higher education and training,” Mr Hall said.

Mr Hall said the innovative projects included:

$2.2 million to a project to increase local access to higher education and training. The U2Uni project, being developed by Swinburne University and Mansfield Adult Continuing Education (MACE), will be delivered across 12 locations including Mansfield, Shepparton, Wodonga, Wangaratta and Benalla.

$650,000 to the Strengthening Regional Food and Dairy Manufacturing Education project involving GOTAFE and the University of Ballarat. The project will deliver tailored food science, technology and management programs for the dairy and food manufacturing industry through a range of certificate and diploma courses.

$468,000 to a project involving La Trobe University, GOTAFE, SuniTAFE and Bendigo TAFE to increase higher education participation among indigenous and refugee students.

Click here to read the full article on the Victorian Government website.

Posted in Dairy, Food Processing, Training Initiatives, VFITB General | No Comments »

NMIT gets a $10.5 million boost from the Victorian government

Friday, February 17th, 2012

From the Victorian Government website, 15 February 2012:
The new state-of-the-art Epping Student Centre will help Northern Metropolitan Institute of TAFE (NMIT) meet the growing demand for vocational and higher education services in one of Victoria’s fastest expanding regions – the Whittlesea growth corridor.

Officially opening the Victorian Government funded centre at NMIT’s Epping campus, Minister for Higher Education and Skills Peter Hall said the new centre boasts a state-of-the-art library, 24 hour computer laboratories, general purpose rooms, and a brand-new fully-equipped gym that will be available for wider community use.

“More than 3,700 vocational education and training (VET) and higher education students studying disciplines as far ranging as agriculture and land management, equine studies, painting and decorating, accounting, farriery and meat processing, will directly benefit from this fantastic new facility,” Mr Hall said.

The Victorian Government provided $10.5 million in funding for the new centre and the relocation of NMIT’s Painting and Plastering Centre from Heidelberg to Epping.

The two-level student resource and information facility and the relocation of the Painting and Plastering Centre is the first stage of a long-term redevelopment of the Epping campus.

“The Victorian Coalition Government is committed to providing educational opportunities that respond to Victoria’s need for a skilled workforce,” Mr Hall said.

“This new centre will help meet the needs of Victorian businesses by supporting the growth in demand for skilled employees in the building and construction, food processing, transport and distribution, business services and community and health services industries by providing specialist, industry standard training facilities.

“This fantastic new facility in Epping means that NMIT is well placed to continue to be the powerhouse for skills development in Melbourne’s north into the future.”

Mr Hall said Victorian Government funding for vocational education and training had increased from $800 million in 2008 to almost $1.3 billion this year.

Click here to read the full article on the Victoria Government’s website.

Posted in Food Processing, Meat Processing, Training Initiatives, VFITB General | No Comments »

Sustainability Champions Scholarship Program for Trainers – app’s close 29 Feb

Friday, February 17th, 2012

From Skills Victoria (email):

Vocational Education and Training practitioners are invited to apply for the Vocational Graduate Certificate Education and Training for Sustainability (VGC ETfS) through the National Centre for Sustainability, Swinburne University of Technology (Vic) in partnership with the North Coast TAFE (New South Wales) and Tropical North Institute of TAFE (Queensland).

Under the National VET Sector Skills for Sustainability Professional Development Program, funded by The Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (formerly DEEWR), eighty fully funded places have been made available to successful applicants across Australia. Course tuition and enrolment costs are fully subsidised.

The course will run for twelve months commencing late March 2012. There are eighty places available nationwide which will be allocated through a competitive application process. For more information please see:http://www.swinburne.edu.au/ncs/edutrain.html

To apply, you must complete and submit the Sustainability Champions Scholarship Program Application Form and have the endorsement of your RTO. Applications close 5.00pm, Wednesday 29 February.

Posted in Baking, Confectionery, Dairy, Food Processing, Meat Processing, Pharmaceuticals, Seafood, Training Initiatives, VFITB General, Wine | No Comments »

Fried food may not be bad as long as the type of oil used is good

Monday, February 13th, 2012

From the Australian Food News website:
Researchers from the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, in Spain, have found that the link between the consumption of fried food and risk of coronary heart disease may not be as strong as previous research suggests.

The Spanish study published in the British Medical on Journal 24 January 2012, found that specific aspects of frying food, such as the oil used, together with other aspects of the diet are more important than the act of frying the food in itself.

The study comprised 40,757 people (about two-thirds of whom were women) and was conducted in five regions in Spain that traditionally have widely varying diets. Participants in the study were first interviewed at baseline (in 1992) about their usual diet and food preparation. Sixty-two per cent of study subjects reported using olive oil for frying and the remaining participants used sunflower or other vegetable oils.

The research found that the consumption of fried foods was not associated with the risk of coronary heart disease during the 12 year follow-up.

Click here to read the full article on the Australian Food News website.

Posted in Food Processing, Meat Processing | No Comments »

CSIRO experts recommend new preventative steps for digestive health

Thursday, February 9th, 2012

From the Australian Food News website, 1 February:
Leading Australian experts in gut research, gastroenterology, nutrition and dietetics have released their key recommendations for actions to be taken to improve digestive and bowel health for Australians.

The recommendations come out of an Expert Roundtable panel made up of representatives from the Gut Foundation and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). The CSIRO is an Australian government-funded agency and is one of Australia’s leading scientific institutes. The Gut Foundation is a non-profit foundation specialising in research and education of all aspects of gastrointestinal and digestive health.

A key aspect of the Expert Roundtable findings was that despite perceptions of Australians being aware of a need to consume high levels of fibre – almost reaching the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) target – Australian colorectal cancer rates remained high and continue to be on the increase in Australia.

Click here to read the full article on the Australian Food News website.

Posted in Baking, Food Processing | No Comments »

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Industry Advisory Committee

Archive for February, 2012

Saving Dollars and Saving the Environment Final Invitation to Participate in 2012

$1 billion to help Australian manufacturing move to a cleaner future

Final Report of the Review of Funding for Schooling (Gonski Report)

Increase in Australia’s milk production forecast to continue

Victoria’s Casey municipality “food security policy” initiative

North East tertiary education gets a $3.3 million boost from Victorian Coalition Government

NMIT gets a $10.5 million boost from the Victorian government

Sustainability Champions Scholarship Program for Trainers – app’s close 29 Feb

Fried food may not be bad as long as the type of oil used is good

CSIRO experts recommend new preventative steps for digestive health

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