A project to develop a virtual reality harvest training tool for the Victorian horticulture sector has been awarded $1.6 million in funding from the Department of Education and Training’s Workforce Training Innovation Fund.

A collaboration between leading horticultural business, Costa Group, Melbourne Polytechnic and the not for profit East Gippsland Food Cluster, the project will utilize virtual reality technology to allow workers, trainees and trainers to experience what harvesting work is like in the field and prior to commencing work.

A core skills curriculum will be developed and delivered for horticulture harvest workers across a number of sectors within the Victorian horticulture industry, including mushrooms, salad and field vegetables.

“The labour intensive nature of the horticulture industry makes it an excellent fit for the development of technology to improve worker training, skills and productivity, both prior to commencing work and during employment,” Jose Cambon, the Victorian state manager of the Costa Group Mushroom Category, said.

“There will also be capacity for multi-lingual delivery platforms, which is important given that many of our mushroom workers have English as a second language.”

Melbourne Polytechnic is excited to be involved in the project and the potential that it presents for developing state of the art education and training opportunities for people interested in pursuing a role in horticulture.

“The project will deliver a condensed course structure that will reflect the real-world nature of the industry, by allowing workers to follow the harvest trail across the State with high employability skills,” Tony Lander, director of Government and Industry Partnerships, Melbourne Polytechnic, said.

“Vegetable growers in Gippsland are always looking for ways to ensure they have access to a reliable and well trained workforce to harvest their crops.”
“This project is designed to contribute to increased productivity through reducing worker turnover and reducing product wastages,” Dr. Nicola Watts, chief executive officer of East Gippsland Food Cluster, said.

Costa Group, Melbourne Polytechnic and East Gippsland Food Cluster acknowledge the valuable support of the Victorian Government in making this project possible and commend the government for focusing on developing employment opportunities in the horticulture sector in recognition of the valuable role it plays in the Victorian economy.
The project is due for completion in March 2020.