Goulburn_Ovens_Institute_of_TAFE

Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE

Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE, also known as GOTAFE, is a TAFE institute located in the north east region of Victoria, Australia based on the Goulburn and Ovens rivers, and is the largest regional TAFE in Victoria, and a specialist centre for food processing, equine and dairy education.

A wide selection of study options are offered from short courses, apprenticeships, traineeships, certificates, diplomas and advanced diplomas under the Australian Qualifications Framework.

National Centre for Dairy Education Australia

In 2005, Dairy Australia and the Institute formed a partnership to create the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia (NCDEA) to enable a single national framework for dairy education and training.

With University of Melbourne announcing the divestment of agricultural vocational education and training in its rural facilities in September 2005, the Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE through the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia was able to purchase the campus and facilities at Dookie, Warragul and Werribee. The Institute saw the Werribee campus as particularly important for continuing the linkage between dairy education, dairy research and specialised dairy equipment and expertise located within Dairy Innovation Australia Limited and Food Science Australia.

The National Centre for Dairy Education Australia is based on campuses at Dookie, Shepparton, Terang, Warragul, and Werribee.

National Centre for Equine Education

The Institute established in 2006 the National Centre for Equine Education to deliver Vocational Education and Training (VET) for the equine industry based at it's Park Avenue Stud in Wangaratta focusing on courses in equine breeding, racing and health.

The National Centre for Equine Education has two campuses: Christensen Lane, Wangaratta and the West Gippsland Campus at Pakenham.

Innoven

The Innoven division of GOTAFE focuses on innovative education programs in Hospitality, Baking, Food processing, Leadership, Logistics, Lean manufacturing, Meat Processing and OHS.

Innoven campuses are at Werribee and Shepparton.

Campuses

The Institute has four main campuses based in Benalla, Seymour, Shepparton and Wangaratta. Other campuses are located at Dookie, Terang, Warragul and Werribee.

Benalla

The Benalla campus is the newest of the Institute's main campuses. In 2004 Lynne Kosky, the Minister for Education, opened the Benalla Performing Arts and Convention Centre at the Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE. Kosky said "This campus facilitates the delivery of approximately 226,000 student contact hours to more than 1100 students each year," The $4.2 million campus was funded jointly by the State Government, Benalla Rural City Council and the Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE.

Shepparton

There are two campuses in Shepparton. The Fryers Street Campus houses the Institute's Administration and a large number of teaching Departments. On the outskirts of Shepparton is the William Orr campus: a 120 hectare property which is the site of the Shepparton Horticulture and Building and Construction departments.

Seymour

The Seymour campus was opened in 1998 and offers a variety of courses.

Wangaratta

The Docker street campus in Wangaratta offers a broad range of courses from business studies to music with a central area containing a cafeteria, library and student services. The Christensen Lane campus on the outskirts of Wangaratta is the home for the National Centre for Equine Education and facilities for the Horticulture Department.

Dookie College

The Dookie College Campus focuses on Agriculture, Viticulture and Wine Technology and includes a commercial winery for training and extensive orchards, vineyards and farming facilities. A Farm Skills Centre at the College offers a range of short courses providing specific skills for the farming community.

The Campus provides shared facilities for GOTAFE, the National Centre for Dairy Education and the University of Melbourne.

History

In October 1996 the Goulburn Valley Institute of TAFE and the Wangaratta Institute of TAFE were combined to form the Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE.

The origins of the Institute are based on the Wangaratta Technical School, which existed from 1928 to 1972 and the Shepparton Technical College which existed from 1953 to 1981. These educational institutions offered a trades and technical focussed secondary education. In 1972 the Wangaratta Technical School became the Wangaratta Technical College, followed by Wangarrata College of TAFE in 1981, and Wangarrata Institute of TAFE in 1995.

The Shepparton Technical College became the Shepparton College of TAFE in 1981, then the Goulburn Valley College of TAFE in 1986, Goulburn Valley Community College in 1992, and Goulburn Valley Institute of TAFE in 1995.

Awards

May 2007 - The NCDEA won the Danisco Award for the highest scoring Fetta cheese and a Silver award for a Gil-Blue at the Dairy Industry Association of Australia Product Competition
2007 - gold medal was won for “Wyndham Gold”, a washed rind cheese, at South Australia’s Specialty Cheese Show, CheeseFest 07.
2006 - ATMA Marketer/Business Developer of the Year Award at the Australian TAFE Marketing Association (ATMA)