A modernised structure for TAFE NSW will reduce overheads, direct more resources to frontline teaching and guarantee TAFE is meeting the training and skills needs of the Central Coast community and economy, Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Mr Scot MacDonald MLC and Member for Terrigal, Mr Adam Crouch MP said in a media statement released on July 13.
Mr MacDonald said the NSW Government has released a vision for oncein-a-generation reform of TAFE NSW which will see the independent institute structure dissolved and replaced with a single, multi-campus TAFE NSW. “This reform is about providing more choice, better access and convenient training for our students to help them get the jobs of the future,” Mr MacDonald said. “It will make signifi cant savings on back offi ce administration and management which will be reinvested into training and skilling more people in NSW.” Mr Crouch said “We need to ensure TAFE NSW is equipped to deliver the skilled workforce to help drive projects underway on the Central Coast.
“Importantly, for every $1 million saved through this reform, the NSW Government can subsidise the training for 250 extra students to help them get their fi rst job, or upskill for their next career step.” Minister for Skills, Mr John Barilaro, said the 25 year old TAFE Institute model was designed to create competition between the institutes to increase student choice; however, with the variety of options available today, TAFE doesn’t need to compete with itself. “Excessive overheads, a large and underutilised asset base, and infl exible workforce arrangements are diverting valuable Government funding away from the most important job TAFE has, training our workforce of the future,” Mr Barilaro said.
“This year, the NSW Government will subsidise up to 550,000 places in vocational training which will help people into their fi rst job, or reskill into a new job, and TAFE NSW has an important role to play in helping people achieve their career goals,” he added. Under these reforms, the NSW Government will also: Open a series of brand new Flexible Learning Centres from February 2017, giving remote and disadvantaged students access to TAFE training and teaching across the network; Create a new TAFE Digital Education headquarters in regional NSW; and, Reinvest any money from land or asset sales back into TAFE NSW.
Media release, Jul 13, 2016 Mitchell Cutting, office of Scot McDonald MLC