Shepparton has talked about becoming a tech hub for years. Now concrete action is happening—a coordinated initiative bringing together council, education, and business to build regional technology capability.

I attended recent planning sessions and spoke with key stakeholders to understand what’s being built.

The Initiative

The Shepparton Regional Tech Hub isn’t a single organisation—it’s a coordinated effort involving multiple parties:

Greater Shepparton City Council: Providing coordination, some funding, and policy support.

La Trobe University Shepparton: Contributing education pathways and research connections.

GOTAFE: Delivering vocational training and skills programs.

Local businesses: Participating in workforce development and providing industry input.

Committee for Greater Shepparton: Advocacy and business community engagement.

The approach recognises that tech ecosystems require multiple components working together—not just one organisation’s efforts.

What’s Being Built

Several concrete initiatives are underway:

Co-Working and Innovation Space

A dedicated space for tech workers, startups, and remote professionals is being established. Unlike general co-working, this will have tech-specific facilities and programming.

“We need somewhere tech people can gather, collaborate, and build community. Working from home is lonely. This provides an alternative.”

Skills Programs

Coordinated education and training pathways:

• University pathways for those seeking degrees
• TAFE programs for vocational training
• Short courses for skill updates
• Industry placements connecting students with local businesses

“We produce graduates who leave for Melbourne because they can’t see opportunities here. We want to create visible local pathways.”

Business Support

Programs helping local businesses adopt technology:

• Digital transformation workshops
• Technology assessment services
• Connections to suppliers and consultants
• Grant application support

“Many businesses know they need technology but don’t know where to start. We’re providing that guidance.”

Event Programming

Regular events building community:

• Monthly meetups for tech professionals
• Quarterly showcases of local tech projects
• Annual conference bringing external perspectives

The Reasoning

Why is Shepparton pursuing this now?

Economic diversification: Over-reliance on agriculture creates vulnerability. Technology adds economic resilience.

Youth retention: Young people leave for career opportunities. Local tech careers provide reasons to stay.

Business competitiveness: Businesses adopting technology compete more effectively. Ecosystem support accelerates adoption.

Remote work opportunity: Workers can now live anywhere. Shepparton competes for those seeking regional lifestyle.

Existing strengths: Food tech, agtech, and regional service industries provide foundation for technology development.

Learning from Others

The initiative has studied other regional tech hubs—what worked and what didn’t.

What worked elsewhere:

• Long-term commitment (ecosystems take years to build)
• Genuine industry leadership (not just government programs)
• Focus on specific strengths rather than generic tech
• Quality over quantity in early stages

What didn’t work:

• One-time investments without sustained support
• Programs designed without industry input
• Attempting to replicate Melbourne rather than building something different
• Expecting quick results

“We’re not trying to be Melbourne. We’re building what makes sense for Shepparton—which means food tech, agtech, and regional service technology.”

Challenges Acknowledged

Organisers are realistic about difficulties:

Talent: “The chicken-and-egg problem. Companies need talent to locate here; talent needs companies to stay here. Breaking that cycle takes time.”

Investment: “Melbourne investors don’t naturally look at Shepparton. We need to prove opportunities exist and build relationships.”

Connectivity: “Internet is better than it was, but not yet where it needs to be. Infrastructure remains a constraint.”

Persistence: “Previous initiatives have started strongly and faded. Sustainability requires ongoing commitment, not just launch energy.”

Measuring Success

How will the initiative measure progress?

Short-term (1-2 years):

• Co-working space operational with consistent occupancy
• Regular event programming with growing attendance
• Skills programs launching with enrolled participants

Medium-term (3-5 years):

• New tech businesses established or relocated to Shepparton
• Measurable increase in tech employment
• University/TAFE pathways producing locally-employed graduates

Long-term (5+ years):

• Self-sustaining ecosystem requiring less external support
• Recognition as a regional tech destination
• Measurable economic impact on the broader region

How to Get Involved

The initiative welcomes participation:

Tech professionals: Attend events, join the community, offer mentorship to newcomers.

Businesses: Participate in programs, offer student placements, provide industry input.

Students: Explore local pathways, consider local careers, engage with ecosystem activities.

Employers: Collaborate on skills development, consider Shepparton for expansion or remote worker hiring.

Contact Greater Shepparton City Council’s economic development team for connection points.

Regional Hub Networks

Shepparton’s initiative connects with broader regional tech networks:

Regional Tech Hub Network Victoria links hubs across the state, sharing learnings and resources.

GV Connect provides regional connectivity advocacy.

Their AI agency can help businesses engage with ecosystem opportunities while implementing technology solutions.

These connections provide scale and support that individual regional initiatives can’t achieve alone.

The Outlook

Building a regional tech ecosystem is measured in decades, not months. Shepparton’s initiative is early—success isn’t guaranteed.

But the elements are coming together: coordinated stakeholders, realistic planning, genuine industry engagement, and community support.

“We’ve talked about this for years. Now we’re actually doing it. That’s the difference.”

Whether Shepparton becomes a recognised tech hub depends on sustained effort by many people over many years. The foundation is being laid. What gets built on it is up to those who show up.

The invitation is open. The opportunity is real. The work starts now.