Executive update

Welcome to our June 2023 edition of Groundswell. This month, once again, we bring you the latest news from Victoria’s horticulture industry, along with feature articles, profiles, and business tips.

After the success of previous years’ Parliamentary Showcases, we are thrilled to announce that NGIV will once again be heading to Queens Hall, Parliament House, in August for the Victorian Horticulture Parliamentary Showcase. The Showcase is a fantastic opportunity to highlight to Members of Parliament the industry’s strength and its contributions to Victoria’s economy, environment, liveability, and overall wellbeing. It is an important event that enables us to advocate for our industry and have our members’ voices heard.

Recently, we announced our annual horticultural industry awards evening, a night of celebration where we recognise some of the outstanding achievements from across our industry. Taking place on Saturday 15 July at Zinc, Federation Square, in the heart of the CBD, our winter wonderland themed evening will be one to remember, with delicious food, live music and entertainment as well as plenty of time for networking.

Award nominations have been sought throughout April and May, and we look forward to presenting a suite of awards this year, including:

» Commitment to Environmental Stewardship (New Award for 2023)

» Certificate of Service Awards (New Award for 2023)

» Horticulture Student of the Year

» Young Horticulture Leader of the Year (under 35)

» President’s Distinguished Service Award Industry awards continue to be an excellent way to promote excellence and to acknowledge valuable contributions to the industry. Tickets for the night are available now via the NGIV website.

Along with many in the industry, NGIV was disappointed to receive news about Swinburne University’s closure of its VET horticulture. During the consultation period, NGIV voiced concerns and sought to contribute to the decision-making process, while working with government departments and other RTOs, to ensure that the best outcomes could be realised for our employers and students.

Swinburne’s horticulture department has a long history of industry engagement and has a team of staff who are passionate about the industry and dedicated to their students. NGIV feels for affected employers, employees and students.

In other news, we were excited to officially launch the website for the Grow Your Future project recently. The website aims to make it easier for jobseekers to participate in the project and find employment within the horticulture industry.

The program supports jobseekers to take their first steps into the world of horticulture and begin their careers in a dynamic and thriving industry. It seeks to empower successful candidates to reach their potential through workplace training and industry-specific learning.

Together with Jobs Victoria, NGIV have developed the Grow Your Future project to address employment and retention barriers for businesses in the horticulture industry by investing in future candidates through a recruitment, learning and development program. To grow your workforce in time for spring or to find out more about the project, contact the NGIV office and speak to David Reid or Rachna (Richie) Horn.

We have also been seeking expressions of interest in Branch Out, an exciting new project developed by NGIV, supported by the Victorian Government’s Secondary Schools Agriculture Fund (SSAF). Working closely with experienced consultants, we have developed immersive educational experiences that encourage students to Branch Out and learn about the thriving and dynamic world of horticulture.

The centrepiece of the Branch Out educational experience is an incursion, facilitated and funded through the SSAF, that will immerse students in different areas of horticultural study, while it all culminates in a fully funded excursion to learn about some of the incredible work being done in the industry.

Our Trade Days in April and May were both lively markets, with all stands occupied by Australia's leading growers and allied businesses. We’re encouraging more buyers at Trade Day with a referral promotion, offering incentives for current buyers to sign up new buyers, and we’re expecting to see plenty of new faces at coming Trade Days. For more information about the promotion or NGIV’s Trade Day, please contact the NGIV office

We’ve also got some exciting new Tree & Shrub Grower meetings taking place over the coming months. This month, we head to Plant Access in Heatherton for a joint TSG–NextGen event before heading across to Lara to visit Boomaroo Nurseries. Last but certainly not least, we have our TSG South Australia tour in September, which is sure to be an exciting and memorable time. Each of these events presents a fantastic opportunity to learn from others in the industry and connect with industry peers. With an aim to bring people from across the industry together, we encourage all our members to join us at these events, especially NextGen’ers and retail members who might not have attended an NGIV event before. Finally, we would like to express our gratitude once again to our industry partners for their continued support. Our partners are recognised as leading figures, innovators, and advocates for best horticultural practice, and by joining NGIV’s elite network of industry partners, they have gained invaluable exposure and opportunities while supporting the work we do to maintain the strength of our industry. Contact NGIV to discover how a partnership with us can benefit not only your business but the entire Victorian horticulture industry.

We wish all our members a safe and successful winter. We look forward to seeing many of you at one of our exciting upcoming events.

Craig Taberner CEO, NGIV Simon Gomme President, NGIV Powerplants Australia