TAFE SA, WOMEN'S EDUCATION

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:06): My question is to the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills. Will the minister inform the house about courses at TAFE SA that provide women with pathways for further learning opportunities?

The Hon. T.R. KENYON (Newland—Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for Recreation and Sport) (15:07): I thank the member for Florey for her question. Everyone in this house would know that she has been a very strong advocate for women for a very long time and, along with the member for Ashford and the member for Reynell, has had a keen interest in the women's studies course at TAFE.

Women's Education covers courses delivered by TAFE SA and provides a range of learning that is often regarded as foundation skills, that is, language, literacy, numeracy and digital literacy. Unlike the many other courses delivered by TAFE SA, students who enrol in Women's Education often do so through word of mouth or when non-government and government agencies refer clients to TAFE SA. This presents a range of challenges, as TAFE courses, like those in our universities, generally cannot be delivered unless a critical number of students are enrolled and completing them. As a consequence, TAFE SA has made a number of changes to course and subject availability to ensure its ongoing success.

A number of members have spoken directly with me about the future of Women's Education. I have made it clear that I support the ongoing delivery of Women's Education courses for the opportunities it provides women facing multiple barriers to learning, as long as there is demand by students and courses and subjects delivered are financially sustainable like other TAFE SA courses.

Late last year, I was invited by Women's Education students at the TAFE SA Elizabeth campus to visit them and hear about their experiences. What was most striking was that virtually all the women in attendance had faced a range of significant personal challenges to enter further education. Many were single parents trying their best to raise their families and encourage their own children into learning; most of the women had not completed secondary schooling. Many women had lived isolated from the community and meeting women with similar circumstances had provided an important support network. There were recent migrants for whom English was their second language.

The Women's Education students I met at TAFE SA Elizabeth identified that there was one key benefit from their studies: gaining strategies that assisted them to overcome their personal challenges and to make decisions to fulfil their own personal development along with their families. I was impressed by the number of women who, after commencing Women's Education courses, had decided to further their education and learning, not only at TAFE but also at university.

Under the Skills for All reforms being rolled out, certificate I and II courses in Women's Education and other courses will have no student tuition fees from semester 2 of this year.

Madam Speaker, I can advise the house that Women's Education certificate III and IV courses will also be recognised as foundation skill courses, and have no student tuition fees from semester 2 this year. Cost should not be a barrier to women gaining the skills that they need to enter the workforce. This is an important development, as it recognises that Women's Education provides key language, literacy and numeracy skills that are needed for further learning and training opportunities that can lead to personally fulfilling employment.