We are pleased to announce that Bendigo Tech School has been chosen as a recipient of the Secondary Schools Agricultural Fund (SSAF) to develop two related STEAM education programs.

As part of the Victorian Government’s $5.5 million initiative aimed at meeting the future demands of the agriculture sector, we plan to equip Victorian students with the skills and know-how around sustainable land use and Bush Food production - informed by traditional knowledge, practices, and cultural insights connected to local industries and networks.

A Bushfoods and Traditional Land Care Microcredential will be developed in partnership with the Nalderun Education Aboriginal Corporation and then made available as a free World of Work resource for all Victorian students. Concurrently, we will also develop the Agtech Pilot Program, which will connect with local industries and networks exploring the future of food, biodiversity, circular economies, urban agriculture, and digital and wireless technologies. It will include a one-day on-Country experience where students will explore Bush Food production informed by traditional knowledge and insights.

These programs aim to provide thousands of Victorian students with STEAM pathways that could help fill skills gaps in the Agtech sector. Year 8-10 students will also have the opportunity to develop viable innovations that could one day result in economic activity in the sector. 

The SSAF Bush Foods and Traditional Landcare Program marks an important step towards promoting Indigenous culture and traditional knowledge in the education sector, while also providing students with practical skills in sustainable land use and Agtech.

For more information, please contact [email protected].