Cheese making skills to be put to the test

Secondary school students are currently putting their cheese making skills to the test through Dairy Australia’s “Cows Create Careers – Camembert in the Classroom” program.

Teachers and students from four schools across the region are participating in the program including Warragul Regional College, Marist Sion College, Maffra Secondary College and Lowanna College.

The program is designed to encourage secondary school teachers and students to learn about the Australian dairy industry while introducing students to dairy manufacturing careers and pathways.

Teachers have been trained to make camembert cheese by program presenter and deputy chief judge of the Australian Grand Dairy Awards Russell Smith. They then teach their students how to do it.

Over a term students make their own camembert cheese in the classroom and complete assessment tasks, including a multimedia advertisement addressing ‘Why Dairy is an Important Part of Our Diet’.

At the end of the program Russell Smith and other accredited judges will judge and award the region’s winning cheese.

A prize of $300 is awarded for the winning cheese, $200 is awarded for the runner up cheese and $250 is awarded for the winning multimedia advertisement.

Camembert in the Classroom program manager Mani Iyer said the Dairy Australia program was a hands-on platform to introduce both teachers and secondary students to the Australian dairy industry, dairy processes and dairy products.

“Since its launch in 2011, the Camembert in the Classroom program has grown significantly in popularity,” Dr Iyer said.

“In 2015, over 101 schools from Victoria, South Australia, NSW, Tasmania, Queensland and Western Australia participated in the program, with all of the schools incorporating the program into their school curriculum.”

The presentation day will be held on Monday, September 5 in Warragul.