By Aaron Cordy
Committee for Greater Shepparton (C4GS) kicked off 2026 with its first major event, Health Innovation in the Goulburn Valley, on Tuesday, March 3. Shining a spotlight on the health innovation in hospitals, food and grocery manufacturers, digital networks and local clinics across the Goulburn Valley.
C4GS Chief Executive Officer Linda Nieuwenhuizen was excited about the multi-panelled event.
“In our health practitioner type people really innovative things with prosthetics and podiatry that are delivering services locally for people who need, and the better outcomes we get from local services. We’ve got Duncan and Janine, because obviously we’re a major centre for food manufacturing, the concentration of manufacturing. The mix of tomatoes, fruit, dairy, you name it, we seem to have it or it’s been transported here to be processed,” said Linda.
Director Health, Trade and Regulatory Affairs, AFGC, Dr Duncan Craig, caught up with some of our local manufacturers to see what innovation looks like in food in the region.
“Disruptions and crises has become the norm, hasn’t it? If it’s not geopolitics, it’s responding to COVID, it’s responding to all sorts. So I think it’s about having the foundations right. And I think Australia has such a great story to tell in terms of food production and food manufacturing,” said Dr Craig.
“What people don’t recognise is that the food and beverage and grocery and grocery manufacturing sector together is the largest manufacturing sector in the country. We always think of mining, but as a sector, it’s over 32 per cent of manufacturing turnover.
“What I really like, it’s that regional importance of rural and regional Australia. So 30 per cent of all that employment is in the regions. It shows the importance of these regional centres in both producing safe, reliable food that pretty much sustains the nation.
“This region is a real powerhouse in terms of production of those commodities, such as dairy and horticulture. I think Australia has just such a good global reputation, both in terms of the way we produce our food and the regulatory systems we have in place. We are known as one of the most rigorous in terms of safety, and that really gets us into a lot of markets.”
The event will feature these national industry bodies alongside local leaders and innovators, highlighting how health innovation underpins local jobs, skills, investment and community wellbeing.
