VICTORIA’S next generation of sheep shearers are kick-starting their careers with access to more affordable training and technology-based learning, thanks to a State Government initiative.

Training and Skills minister, Gayle Tierney, met with shearers at the Hamilton Showgrounds on Monday as part of Sheepvention to officially announce a $93,000 investment to grow the shearing workforce in south-west Victoria.

Ms Tierney said that by investing in the training and skills sector, and giving support and funding to training providers, they were helping to meet a crucial need for skilled workers and giving more young Victorians real job opportunities.

“We’re supporting high-quality training that gives aspiring students the best start to a rewarding career in modern agriculture,” she said.

More students will be able to take part in the Certificate II in Shearing course through Rural Industries Skill Training (RIST) in Hamilton, with the investment supporting more Virtual Reality (VR) learning content and upgrading shearing handpieces and VR headsets.

The course combines virtual reality, augmented reality, simulation and in-person workshops to offer students practical and future-focused learning opportunities.

Victoria is Australia’s largest wool exporter – exporting 51 per cent of the nation’s wool with more than 3000 sheep specialist farm businesses across the state.

With the current shortage of skilled seasonal workers to service this thriving industry in regional Victoria, this training will help more people complete the formal training pathway to a professional level qualification in shearing.

The government recently invested $1.69 million to deliver RIST’s Anywhere Anytime Access to Training Pathways Project as part of the government’s $15 million Agriculture TAFE and Training Fund.

RIST Centre chief executive, Bill Hamill, said that the Victorian Government’s support through the Regional and Specialist Training Fund “has been invaluable in enabling RIST to provide training to increase the number of new entrants into the shearing industry to assist in addressing the severe shortage of shearers”.