The Andrews Labor Government has invested $13 million to upgrade teaching, research and residential facilities of the University of Melbourne's Dookie campus in north-eastern Victoria.
Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education Gayle Tierney today toured the world-class facilities at the campus in the Goulburn Valley.
These new high-quality, modern teaching facilities received $2 million in funding from the $6 million Growing Victoria's Agriculture Industry Project. The University of Melbourne has also contributed more than $630,000 for upgrades to animal handling facilities to support teaching and research activities.
Through the Agriculture College Modernisation Program (ACMP), the $21 million University of Melbourne Dookie Campus Student Accommodation Project - co-funded by the Labor Government and University of Melbourne - will be delivered.
The project - which will receive $11 million from the Government - includes building at least another 85 new student ensuite bedrooms on campus.
The much-needed upgrades to student accommodation will increase the colleges' capacity to accommodate more students, boosting opportunities for more Victorians to live and study in regional areas.
The campus remains a vital hub for leading research, teaching and technology development that is helping to shape the future of agriculture in Australia.
The 2,440-hectare property is the state's oldest agricultural college, dating back to 1886, and includes a broadacre farm, a dairy farm with a robotic dairy, orchard, winery and a natural bush reserve.
As well as supporting regional students, the campus also provides accommodation for students from the university's Parkville campus for agriculture students to study and live at the rural site.
Already under the ACMP, a new 30-bedroom facility at Marcus Oldham College has been opened, $2.5 million has been invested to upgrade Glenorminston Agricultural College and new accommodation for up to 41 students at Longerenong College will be opened later this year.
As stated by Minister for Training and Skills Gayle Tierney
"This investment is supporting the Dookie campus to continue to be a leader in the agricultural field while helping more Victorians to pursue exciting careers in agriculture."
"Every student deserves to be able to get a great education close to home. That's why we have supported this important upgrade, along with other upgrades to agriculture colleges at Glenormiston and Longerenong."
As stated by University of Melbourne Dean of Science Moira O'Bryan
"Our students and researchers engage directly with the agricultural industry, test innovations and develop solutions in plant and animal health, farming, food and agribusiness. These upgrades will strengthen these opportunities."
