Mildura is situated in Victoria’s north-west.  Covering around 10 percent of the state’s area, it’s landscape ranges from Mallee vegetation to grain farms, intensive horticulture, vibrant towns and the beautiful banks of the Murray River.

The municipality includes Mildura, Red Cliffs, Merbein, Irymple and Ouyen.  The population of around 60,000 people is culturally diverse, giving the region a cosmopolitan flavour.  From the Murray River in the north to the Mallee national parks and dryland farming districts, our region includes significant natural assets that are the hallmark of our district.

Mildura is known as the centre of Victoria's Food Bowl and is a major horticultural producer. Fruit sourced from the region is famous for its quality, the rich soil contributing to optimal production.  Our region has become a key service and economic hub of inland Australia and is recognised as being one of the top two fastest growing inland regions in the county. 

Mildura enjoys a warm to mild climate and days are mostly clear with 100+ days of full sunshine each year.   Rainfall is about 290mm a year and is spread evenly across the months and seasons.

The Institute is the major provider of Vocational Education and Training in north-west Victoria.  Established in 1979, the Institute offers students up to date and relevant courses that are a combination of theoretical and practical learning.  Sunraysia Institute of Technical and Further Education (TAFE) has 4 campuses, located in Mildura, Swan Hill, Ouyen and Robinvale and enrols over 8000 students annually.

Once of the major issues facing Australia at the present time and in the immediate future is the lack of skilled people to fill vacancies in the workforce.  Preparing people of all ages for the workforce is very much the role of TAFE Institutes.  Sunraysia Institute of TAFE is able to provide a wide range of courses to help prospective students become work ready for employment in Australia.

Some of the courses that we offer in areas of skills shortages are in horticulture, conservation and land management, irrigation, business, commercial cookery and hospitality, automotive and other trades.  The Institute also operates an employment agency that can assist students to find temporary and full time employment.

The Institute is well placed to take a lead role in training for land, food and water management through its centre specialising in land, food and water which is one of four partners in the National Centre for Sustainability.  The irrigation technology that is installed at the Institute’s fully operational farm at Cardross is also the best available in Australia at a training organisation.