GRANT District Mayor Richard Sage has called for the State Government to urgently restructure the regional TAFE sector, which he believes is at crisis point following years of job and training course cuts.
His comments follow Grant District Council’s tour of Warrnambool’s TAFE facility, where delegates assessed the model and approach of the Victorian regional TAFE system.
Mr Sage said he was concerned the TAFE SA state-wide progression towards a centralisation model and online delivery would impact learning outcomes.
“Over the last three years there has been $60m cut from funding for staff wages,” he said.
“There have been the equivalent of 700 full-time jobs cut in that time and a number of trade courses previously available on campus have been centralised in Adelaide or are now only available online.
“For the life of me I can’t understand why people aren’t jumping up and down about this.”
Mr Sage said the South West Institute of TAFE in Warrnambool was an example of a struggling institution “turning it around”.
“We visited the Warrnambool TAFE campus last month on a fact-finding mission and that place is bustling,” he said.
“They have prioritised course delivery, social inclusion, engagement and opportunities.
“In contrast it would seem TAFE SA is treasury driven when it should be driven by the need for education and training.”
Mr Sage said it was vital the State Government took immediate action to restructure the TAFE system and focus on regional course delivery, especially given the high number of private training providers flooding the market.
“Two campuses at Millicent and Naracoorte have already been shut down and staff in Naracoorte are working out of an office that has no signage – how demoralising for staff,” he said.
“Promotional material is being distributed for courses that were delivered months ago, meanwhile students are enrolling in courses that may not even go ahead depending on budget constraints – it’s just a mess.
“There is no regional representative on the TAFE SA board, which is ridiculous – something needs to change or the Mount Gambier campus will continue to shrink to nothing.”
But TAFE SA chief executive Robin Murt was adamant the organisation was not progressing toward a centralisation model.
“We are currently working through the concept planning phase of significant re-developments at the Mount Gambier campus to re-invigorate the campus and improve the learning spaces for staff and students,” Mr Murt said.
“There has been no reduction in trade courses offered in the area in recent time, in fact first year plumbing training has been re-introduced in the last 12 months.
“We are ensuring we meet local training needs, we engage with local businesses and industry, including local business associations.
“TAFE SA is committed to providing high-quality education services to the whole of the South East with the delivery of education and training that is shaped by the demands of local students, local businesses and industry.
“Our partnerships with local schools, businesses and councils are creating positive opportunities for training delivery into the community and industry, resulting directly in local employment.”
