1. Healthcare

Newsletter of the Northern Melbourne Regional Development Australia Committee (NMRDA) . Summer 2014
New regional food plan
A
comprehensive new strategic plan
for the region’s food and beverage
sector has found that there is
potential to double turnover from $2.6
billion to $5 billion and create 7000 jobs
over the next decade.
The Food and Beverage Growth Plan for
Melbourne’s North profiles this important
sector, pinpoints areas of competitive
advantage and identifies opportunities to
grow the industry by highlighting blockers
and strategies required to respond
to them.
Currently, the region has approximately
400 food and beverage businesses with
a turnover of more than $1 million,
generating a gross regional product of
$2.6 billion per annum and employing
over 10,500 workers.
“Manufacturing is still a major industry
and employer of our residents, but the
end of vehicle building at the Ford plant
in 2016 will have serious implications
for the regional economy that can’t be
underestimated,” said Bob McQuillen,
Chair of NMRDA.
“Expanding the food and beverage
sector will offer valuable ongoing
employment and opportunities for
business growth that’s essential to
our region.”
Melbourne’s North is well positioned
to be a hub for food and beverage. The
region’s two universities – La Trobe
University and RMIT University – have
strong programs in the food science area,
and Melbourne Polytechnic and Kangan
Institute also deliver related courses.
The relocation of the Melbourne
Wholesale Fruit, Vegetable and Flower
Market to Epping in 2015 will add to
food and beverage manufacturing by
strengthening the local supply chain
and expertise.
Report recommendations include
establishing an industry-owned
representative organisation, facilitating
R&D for industry, improving skills
development and labour availability, and
actively promoting the region’s food and
beverage sector.
This project aligns with the Australian
Government’s National Food Plan, which
identifies the benefits of empowering food
regions and the importance of developing
regional food plans. Its aim is to increase
the value of food related exports from
Australia by 45% and to increase food
productivity by 30% by 2025.
Project partners: NMRDA; NORTH
Link; Commonwealth Department of
Employment; Victorian Department of
State Development, Business and Innovation
(Bundoora office); La Trobe University;
RMIT University.
Meeting NMRDA
strategic priorities:
• Growing business and
industry, and fostering
innovation
• Promoting education and
developing human capital
WORKFORCE MASTER PLAN UNDER WAY
This major project will analyse what employers require from their workforce now, future skills needs, and what training will be necessary (see page 3).
Advocacy for infrastructure
N
MRDA and partners are approaching
Victoria’s new state government
to advocate for funding of key
recommendations from NMRDA’s Northern
Horizons: 50 Year Infrastructure Strategy for
Melbourne’s North report.
This report is a comprehensive regional
analysis of all aspects of infrastructure that
looks out over the next 50 years.
It identifies the region’s need for enhanced
infrastructure and improved access,
particularly in relation to road infrastructure,
public transport, social infrastructure (health
and aged care facilities), gas and industrial
zoned land. Using this analysis, the report
identifies short, medium and long term
priority projects for Melbourne’s North.
The priority projects include:
• a rail extension to Mernda
• a new interchange at O’Herns Road
• road duplications in key areas
• removal of grade separations at
various locations.
Feedback from government on Northern
Horizons, which presents an agreed
regional approach from local government
and other stakeholders, has been
extremely positive.
Project partners: NMRDA; NORTH Link;
La Trobe University; Cities of Banyule,
Darebin, Hume, Moreland, Whittlesea and
Yarra; Shires of Nillumbik and Mitchell.
Meeting NMRDA strategic
priorities:
• Transport and
infrastructure for
the future
• Building a healthy
community
Advisors can cover a range of online activities
including social media, online marketing,
basic website development and low cost
online solutions.
NMRDA, in conjunction with the City
of Banyule and the Darebin Enterprise
Centre, initiated this project and worked
with partners to establish and manage the
incubator.
Project partners: NMRDA; Australia Post;
City of Banyule; Darebin Enterprise Centre.
Meeting NMRDA strategic
priorities:
• Growing business and
industry, and fostering
innovation
• Stimulating the digital
economy
Launch of
digital
business
incubator
B
anyule digiDECL, a new digital business
incubator in Melbourne’s North, was
opened by the Hon. Wendy Lovell,
Australia Post CEO Ahmed Fahour and Mayor
of Banyule Craig Langdon in August.
The co-working spaces available at
the incubator are assisting home based
businesses, start-up businesses and individual
contractors by providing support services as
well as the opportunity to network.
Situated in West Heidelberg Mall, the
facility is based on a new model of business
incubation where businesses book time
and space as required rather than occupy
premises full time. It is designed to be a highenergy and community-minded workspace.
Free one-on-one mentoring covers
areas of specific interest to each member.
Workforce Master Plan Local
businesses
going
digital
N
Photos courtesy of Mercy Hospital for Women and La Trobe University.
MRDA has commissioned a major
Workforce Master Plan that will
identify and anticipate future
industry, employment and training
requirements in Melbourne’s North over
the next 10 years.
The project will identify strategies to
develop the skills of the local workforce
so that they meet future business and
industry demand. It will provide research
and evidence for industry and workforce
development, and a framework for
industry, skills and employment growth.
The region continues to face ongoing
structural changes in employment. While
manufacturing is still one of the biggest
industries and largest employers, it is
declining and this will continue with the
departure of automotive manufacturing.
This is in contrast to other industries
that are experiencing growth, such as
professional services, education
and health.
The Master Plan will include an action
plan outlining initiatives required to
adapt to future changes, and will detail
a collaborative and strategic response
involving industry, the three levels of
government, and education stakeholders.
Project partners: NMRDA; NORTH Link;
La Trobe University; Cities of Banyule,
Darebin, Hume, Moreland, Whittlesea and
Yarra; Shires of Nillumbik and Mitchell;
Melbourne Planning Authority; Northern
Metropolitan Regional Management
Forum.
Meeting NMRDA strategic
priorities:
• Growing business and
industry, and fostering
innovation
• Promoting education
and developing human
capital
Local business owners have benefited
from free digital technology workshops
held across metropolitan Melbourne
to increase business productivity and
competitiveness.
The workshops are the result of a
metropolitan-wide survey that found
enhancing use of existing digital
technology would generate growth and
improve business efficiencies. The survey
and workshops were initiated by NMRDA
and sponsored by Melbourne RDA
committees.
Guy Jenkin, owner of Jenkin Printing,
signed up for a session on ‘Engage the
Online Customer’ and was glad he did.
“I’ve worked as an independent
print broker for over 25 years but
communications have changed and I
need to keep up,” he said. “Where once
I’d make calls or drop in on prospective
customers, now people find out about
services like mine online.
“The workshop was great. I learned
about social media, email marketing and
a lot more. It was clear and I came away
with a lot of ideas – just what I needed.”
Project partners: NMRDA; NORTH
Link; Melbourne East RDA; Southern
Melbourne RDA; Western Melbourne
RDA; Darebin Enterprise Centre;
local councils across Melbourne.
Meeting NMRDA strategic
priorities:
• Stimulating the digital
economy
• Growing business and
industry, and fostering
innovation
WHAT’S GOING ON
Regional
Summit
outcomes continue
NMRDA partnered with La Trobe University, NORTH Link and seven local councils to
deliver a major Regional Summit in 2013.
The event brought 200 business, community and government leaders together to
develop a shared vision for the region and identify the challenges and opportunities
involved in building a strong and vibrant future.
Themes identified through extensive stakeholder consultation now comprise NMRDA’s
priorities and have guided the following activities generated by NMRDA together with
its partners.
• Growing industry and fostering innovation: The Food and Beverage Growth
Plan for Melbourne’s North identifies strategies required to grow this important
manufacturing sector.
• Promoting education and developing human capital: A major Workforce Master
Plan underway will identify strategies to develop local workforce skills to meet future
business demand.
• Building a healthy community: A recent project delivered over 2000 free health
screenings for Centrelink clients in the region and found health levels well below the
national average.
• Fostering the arts and culture: A regional arts and culture group has been formed
to grow jobs in this sector and promote local tourism across the region.
• Transport and infrastructure for the future: Northern Horizons, a major
infrastructure report, prioritises infrastructure needs from a regional perspective to
inform government planning
• Securing environmental sustainability: NMRDA is working with all governments
to develop a regional approach to sustainability that will help businesses cut costs and
increase productivity.
• Stimulating the digital economy: Banyule digiDECL, a digital business incubator
offering shared working space and support, recently opened in Heidelberg.
Two major projects will bring a
significant boost to the region’s
position as a major food processing
hub in 2015.
• Melbourne’s Wholesale Fruit,
Vegetable and Flower Market,
moving to Epping in May, will
become a modern, innovative
trading and distribution precinct.
• RMIT University is moving its
food pilot plant to Bundoora.
Local manufacturers will be able
to access this facility for R&D to
develop new products or enhance
existing ones.
About NMRDA
The Northern Melbourne Regional
Development Australia (NMRDA) Committee
is funded by the Australian Government.
It builds partnerships between all levels of
government, local businesses, community
groups and key regional stakeholders to
provide strategic and targeted responses to
economic, environmental and social issues
affecting Melbourne’s North.
Contact
Tony Coppola
Executive Officer, NMRDA
Suite 16, Level 1
20 Enterprise Drive
Bundoora VIC 3083
Rewarding
business
achievements
Australian Office is recipient of the 2014 Northern
Business Achievement Award for Innovation and
Education, sponsored each year by NMRDA.
A local manufacturer of premium office papers,
stationery and envelopes, Australian Office supplies
the retail, corporate and government sectors across
Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
The Northern Business Achievement Awards
acknowledge and celebrate the successes and
achievements of small to medium sized enterprises
in Melbourne’s North.
MAJOR FOOD
INFRASTRUCTURE
IN 2015
T: 03 9935 0613
E: [email protected]
www.rdv.vic.gov.au/nmrda
Tony Coppola, Executive Officer
of NMRDA with Mark Kerwin,
General Manager Manufacturing
at Australian Office