Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman starred in this prison movie?

Business camp

VICTORIAN young farmers looking to establish a long and successful career in the agriculture industry can gain valuable skills through two-day Business Bootcamp events during February. Agriculture Victoria will offer the two-day boot camp sessions at Swan Hill over February 9 and 10, and in Maryborough over February 16 and 23. Participants will be taken through profit, loss and cash-flow budgeting, balance sheets and gross margins, risk management, and financial planning and analysis. Agriculture Victoria Young Farmer project coordinator,Sarah Wallis, said the boot camp would help farmers develop skills to understand and manage business risk, develop a business plan to expand their business and connect with other young farmers from their region. These boot camps are targeting young farmers affected by floods and storms as part of Agriculture Victoria’s technical and decision-making support program. The workshops will help to build the resilience of young farm businesses and prepare them for the future. “These fun and interactive boot camps use a series of farm case studies as real-life examples, providing participants with the skills to help them manage their farm business now, as well as planning for their business into the future,” Ms Wallis said. “This is also an opportunity for young and emerging farmers to connect with like-minded and motivated people.” The boot camps will be delivered by Paul Blackshaw, farm business adviser with Meridian Agriculture. Registrations are limited, so to book a place now for either boot camp session, register via https://forms.office.com/r/kB8TsC58T6. For more information visit the Agriculture Victoria’s Young Farmer Business Bootcamps or contact Sarah Wallis, Agriculture Victoria on 0419 571 208 or sarah.wallis@agriculture. vic.gov.au. The Young Farmer Business Bootcamp is coordinated by Agriculture Victoria’s Young Farmer Network in collaboration with the Farm Business Resilience Program.

Hundreds diving into new swimming careers

THOUSANDS of Victorian children will be safer around the water this summer thanks to a state government program creating hundreds of new swim teacher roles. Minister for Employment, Ben Carroll, visited the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) to see how SWIM, a $3.4 million partnership between Jobs Victoria and SWIM Coaches & Teachers Australia, is delivering 280 inclusive employment opportunities at pools and leisure centres around the state. “We’re supporting people to gain new qualifications so they can find secure work and help the sector address a shortage of skilled swim teachers,” he said. “With Victorians heading to our beaches, rivers, lakes and pools this summer, these jobs ensure everyone can safely enjoy the water.” As well as boosting the number of children learning to swim, the program is giving Victorians looking for work the opportunity to begin a new and fulfilling career. For 29-year-old Chloe Turner, the program has been lifechanging. Born with dyspraxia, she had to undergo speech therapy as a child to be able to talk. Through the program, she has received free training and support to become a swim teacher and now works part-time at the Blue Fin Swim School and nearby MSAC in Port Melbourne. This program complements a separate $5.7 million partnership between the government and Aquatics and Recreation Victoria, creating 300 roles for swim teachers, lifeguards and other pool staff. Together, these programs provide 580 Victorians with secure work for 12 months, prioritising people aged 18 to 25, people with a disability, women aged 45 and over, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Participants are paid while they complete preemployment training, including the nationally accredited Swim Australia Teacher of Swimming and Water Safety course, and training in First Aid and CPR. For more information visit jobs.vic.gov.au or call the Jobs Victoria hotline on 1300 208 575.

Recognising the contributions of our veterans

T H E s ta t e g o v e rn m e nt is ca ll i n g f o r organisations to apply for funding to commemorate the contributions of the veteran community or improve facilities where veterans and their families gather to connect. Programs include the Victoria Remembers Program, The Restoring Community War Memorials and Avenues of Honour Program. Minister for Veterans, Natalie Suleyman, encourages Victorian organisations to apply for the programmes, emphasising there is still time to submit proposals. “These programs ensure that the sacrifices of veterans are remembered and understood across our state, through new projects or by restoring important existing memorials,” Ms Suleyman said. “Support is also available for building projects that will ensure organisations that serve our veterans have modern and accessible spaces through which to do so.” The Victoria Remembers program provides grants of up to $30,000 for projects that allow Victorians to commemorate the service of veterans or educate about their experiences. Previous recipients of this program include Seaworks Foundation, which received funding of more than $11,000 in 2021 to create a new exhibition in Williamstown educating visitors about the Navy and how significant the dockyards have been for the local area. The project included the installation of interactive touch screens and interpretative panels, along with a display cabinet for navy ship models, all of which can now be viewed by visitors. Victorian Veterans Council chair, Greg Yorke AM, CSC, said the projects supported by the Victoria Remembers grant program play an important role in building understanding about the experience of veterans and their families. The Restoring Community War Memorials and Avenues of Honour program provide grants of up to $50,000 for projects that restore community war memorials, honour rolls and avenues of honour. The City of Ballarat is among previous recipients of the program, receiving more than $15,000 in 2022 to restore two memorial avenues of trees known as an Avenue of Honour - in their region. The Veterans Capital Works program provides up to $50,000 for projects that improve buildings and facilities for organisations delivering vital services to veterans and their families. These projects may include works to ensure buildings are more energy efficient, modern and accessible. Applications for this program are assessed by the Victorian Veterans Council, an independent body that provides advice to the government on issues affecting the community. Applications close on January 31 across three grant rounds, which are focused on supporting and honouring Victoria’s veteran community. To learn more about these programs or apply for a grant, visit vic.gov.au/ grants-support-and-commemorate-veterans.