About us
The National Centre for Dairy Education Australia (NCDEA) is the Australian dairy industry’s provider of education and training and operates through a national alliance of partner Registered Training Organisations (RTOs).
Education and training delivered by the NCDEA responds to industry and student learning needs to bring dairy education and training under one umbrella.
The NCDEA provides strong leadership in industry education and sets new levels of excellence in agricultural education and training to develop the capability of the Australian dairy industry. NCDEA qualifications are recognised by the industry locally and nationally.
The NCDEA also delivers short courses and customised programs for dairy farming organisations, individual farmers and people in the dairy service industry.
Our mission
To develop the best dairy people in the world.
Our commitment to you
The NCDEA employs experienced, dedicated and respected teachers and trainers, managers and support staff. Our trainers come from dairy farms, education and business. Apart from academic qualifications, NCDEA dairy farming teachers have a range of dairy connections and experience. Sessional teachers and guest speakers enhance the teaching program so students receive up-to-date information. Industry experts, such as people from the State Departments of Primary Industries, ensure relevance particularly at the higher qualification levels.
Our Courses and Qualifications
The NCDEA delivers nationally accredited courses in agriculture from Certificate II through to Advanced Diploma and may offer pathways to degree levels.
Certificate II in Agriculture is offered to Year 10, 11 and 12 students as a Vocational Education and Training in Schools program (VETiS) or an Australian School Based Apprenticeship (ASBA), which provides many young people with the incentive to stay at school and progress their education. This Certificate provides the opportunity to experience a real taste of the agriculture industry with lots of hands on learning occurring on operational farms.
The NCDEA and industry are working together to develop a career pathway for those who want to work in the dairy industry. The progressive qualifications provide training from the early skills of a farm hand right through to dairy business management.
At all stages the students are involved in dedicated vocational training, with classroom participation for developing knowledge and on-farm work for practical experience.
At the Diploma and Advanced Diploma level, projects are undertaken on the individual’s home farm, place of employment or in a managed work placement to ensure relevance and extra value for their study experience.
The NCDEA can also customise training to meet the needs for a particular industry group, such as Milking Machine Testing courses.