Drone Technology Takes Off for our Ovens Murray Secondary Students

Exciting things are happening for secondary school students in our Ovens Murray VET Cluster, with a brand-new Certificate III in Aviation (Remote Pilot) program launching this week.

The idea was first presented at the August 2025 meeting of the Ovens Murray VET Cluster Operations Group, where SUAS ROV were invited to deliver an overview of how nationally recognised drone pilot training could work in a school setting delivered within the VCE and VCE VM. The response saw strong interest from across the Cluster.

Soon after, a Working Group made up of VET Coordinators from six schools was formed to bring the idea to life. Together, they developed a flexible delivery model featuring:

·       Weekly live online theory sessions via Zoom

·       One morning per week across 33 term weeks

·       One hands-on practical training day per term at a central location

Eighteen students from four Cluster schools will make up the first intake kicking off in 2026, gaining access to industry-relevant skills, a nationally recognised qualification, and exposure to real-world drone applications.

This initiative highlights the strength of regional collaboration. By working together and sharing resources, the Ovens Murray VET Cluster has facilitated a high-quality program that opens the door to an exciting, high-demand career pathway with plans already underway to expand offerings in 2027.

The future of aviation is arriving in regional classrooms and these students are ready for take-off.