INDEPENDENT candidate for Mount Gambier Richard Sage has backed calls from incumbent MP Troy Bell to decentralise TAFE SA and implement regional boards of management.
As outlined in Mr Bell’s Together 2018 election policy, Mr Sage supported a move back to an autonomous governance structure to restore independence to the state’s vocational training provider.
The local mayor pushed for the abolition of the centrally-operated TAFE SA board and the installation of regional boards across the state, including one for the South East, to ensure institutes provide education and training services that meet the needs of the community.
“There’s never been any regional representation on that board at all and it’s been very city-centric, with all the jobs being dragged to Adelaide at 100 miles an hour,” he said.
“We’ve had reduced lecturer hours, reduced course content and what’s called tick and flick.
“You talk to the lecturers who have either left TAFE or who are still there and they were directed to follow the rules.
“They were advised to get rid of their own course notes and follow the course outline.”
The political aspirant said increased bureaucratic pressures ensured the failings of some qualifications, including the 10 suspended courses as a result of an Australian Skills Quality Authority audit.
Mr Sage highlighted recent reforms to TAFE within the Victorian system, including a move back to boards for the state’s 12 TAFE institutions, as being highly successful.
He said regional boards would better align programs with the needs of local industries, communities and students based on region-specific consultation compared to the current statewide system.
“We need to set up Mount Gambier as an educational hub and work holistically with the community,” he said.
“The budget has got to be locally controlled and TAFE needs to work with industry and the community to not only create jobs, but provide people with the skills they need to enter the workforce.
“Over the border, they have 29 people dedicated to counselling students on their subject choices and they are responsible for making sure they are in a course that will provide them with necessary job skills.
“If they are enrolled into a course, the counsellors actually follow through and make sure they are attending.”
Mr Bell welcomed the additional support for the move to regional boards and launched a challenge to the State Opposition to adopt the policy ahead of the state election.
While the Liberals have pledged to decentralise the state’s health system, the party has thus far not outlined a similar mechanism for TAFE.
“I’m glad Richard has picked up my pamphlet to see the decentralisation of TAFE as one of my demands if I hold the balance of power and I challenge the Liberals to go down the same path,” Mr Bell said.
“If regional boards are good enough for health, why aren’t regional boards being proposed for our vocational educational providers?
“We face the same issues in vocational educational training in regional areas as we do with regional health and that is around a lack of connection to the community, funding used in inappropriate ways and most of the funding being directed to Adelaide’s institutions.”
Mr Bell backed local educational staff amid challenging working conditions, but directed strong criticism at increased bureaucracy within the system.
“I have seen a massive reduction in support and funding for courses that are being delivered and a massive increase in the bureaucracy of TAFE,” he said.
“I’m concerned the increase in bureaucracy has been political appointments and not merit-based selections.
“The fact that they failed every course that was audited for national compliance really concerns me.”
