THE TAFE SA Mount Gambier campus is set to be revitalised with a multi-million dollar internal overhaul planned for the ageing site.
Interim chief executive Alexandra Reid revealed the plans yesterday during a tour of the Wireless Road West training hub.
The executive’s visit follows a tumultuous period for the embattled public training provider, which has been engulfed in a course accreditation crisis.
Ms Reid – who stepped into the role to address the training debacle – yesterday reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to retaining and growing the Mount Gambier campus.
This follows red flags raised by Grant District Council over the erosion of courses and staff numbers at the facility, which provides face-to-face learning platforms to around 1000 students in the region.
Speaking to The Border Watch, Ms Reid said the Mount Gambier campus was one of the largest in the state and a major redevelopment was planned for the site.
“The Mount Gambier campus is not going anywhere in a hurry. We are looking at a renewal and there is a master plan we are close to resolving,” the TAFE chief said.
She said the concept plans included new state-of-the-art learning spaces and technology.
“There will be a range of changes across the campus, including better utilisation of space and considerably renewed teaching experience.”
This will likely include the creation and renewal of simulated environments for teaching, particularly in hair and beauty, as well aged care.
“Those concepts will be finalised in the near future and we will share those concepts,” Ms Reid said.
She said the funding stream for this development was also “finalised” to a large extent.
But the interim executive stopped short of pledging more lecturers and courses at the facility, arguing these outcomes were linked to demand and operating models.
However, the board is having a fresh look at the issue of regional students – including apprentices – being forced to travel Adelaide for some courses.
“It is expensive to deliver training to small numbers of students … but that presents barriers to students and their families in regional SA,” Ms Reid said.
However, she said TAFE was attempting to marry more courses with industry needs and was canvassing differing models of delivery.
Regarding her visit to Mount Gambier, Ms Reid said she wanted to thank staff for their efforts during this “challenging time” and give an update regarding the current Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) audit process.
Regarding the accreditation crisis, she said this issue did not affect a huge number of students in Mount Gambier.
“Across the entire state we are talking about 1300 in total and we have re-mediated large numbers of those already,” the TAFE chief said.
“Rectification of the 10 non-compliant qualifications is now complete and we have provided our reconsideration submission to ASQA.
“I am very confident there is nothing else we could have thrown at it – I am confident about the quality of the courses.”
Ms Reid said two SA Government reviews were also under way and TAFE was implementing a new quality framework.
“I am passionate about supporting regional South Australia and I really want to provide our stakeholders in the South East with an opportunity to ask questions and hear my answers so they have confidence in TAFE SA,” she said.
“Our industry partners and the wider community, particularly in regional areas, are at the heart of what we do, so it’s important that we emphasise our commitment to addressing local skill requirements.”
