Specialist centre for biotech training

Education and Training Minister Lynne Kosky visited the Box Hill Institute to launch BioSkills, the Specialist Centre in Biotechnology Training.

BioSkills is intended to provide the biotechnology industry with a one-stop shop for accessing training and resources. It also aims to increase understanding of the TAFE sector's capability to provide training and workforce development in biotechnology.

This comes after the state government last year approved Box Hill Institute's status as a Specialist Centre in Biotechnology Training.

BioSkills is housed in Box Hill Institute's new $19.5 million building, which includes purpose-built biotechnology facilities.

Box Hill Institute is also host to the BioSkills Network, a consortium of five TAFEs - Box Hill Institute, Holmesglen Institute of TAFE and the TAFE divisions of Swinburne University, RMIT University and Victoria University of Technology.

BioSkills was born after industry feedback showed a lack of understanding about the capability of the TAFE sector to provide biotechnology training and resources.