Sat, 3rd, Oct, 2026: Fiona Patten, CEO of the Medicinal Cannabis Council Australia (MCCA) & former Vic MP; Australia’s First Medicinal Cannabis Qualification, Domestic Production vs. Imports, Healthcare Education, & Drug Driving Reform — Saturday Magazine

Ten years after medicinal cannabis was legalised in Australia, the domestic market has soared past a billion dollars. Yet, a surprising amount of the medicine prescribed to Australian patients is grown overseas, imported under different regulatory standards. Joining us today on Saturday Magazine is former Victorian MP Fiona Patten in her new role as CEO of the Medicinal Cannabis Council Australia. We’ll be discussing the launch of Australia’s very first TAFE qualification in medicinal cannabis cultivation, why domestic growers are fighting an uneven playing field, and what still needs to change for healthcare workers and patients. Fiona, welcome to JOY 94.9.

The Certificate III in Medicinal Cannabis Cultivation and Production is now available at Federation TAFE. Half of the hands-on hours occur at a working commercial environment in Victoria’s Yarra Valley., gaining experience across greenhouse cultivation, propagation and post-harvest operations.

Ten students have enrolled in the inaugural cohort, preparing them for roles as cultivation technicians, with training covering rigorous compliance, quality assurance, biosecurity, workplace safety and regulated production processes.
Federation TAFE is currently the only registered training organisation approved to deliver and assess the qualification, which was developed in response to identified skills and workforce needs within the growing medicinal cannabis industry.

Modelling of the Victorian industry estimates demand will grow to almost 242,000 medicinal cannabis patients by 2028, with

The post Sat, 3rd, Oct, 2026: Fiona Patten, CEO of the Medicinal Cannabis Council Australia (MCCA) & former Vic MP; Australia’s First Medicinal Cannabis Qualification, Domestic Production vs. Imports, Healthcare Education, & Drug Driving Reform appeared first on Saturday Magazine.