TAFE SA Riverland

In reply to Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (27 July 2016).

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Minister for Education and Child Development, Minister for Higher Education and Skills): I have been advised:

Berri campus is one of three campuses operated by TAFE SA in the Riverland, the other two being Renmark and Waikerie. TAFE SA's operations at Berri are part of a coordinated, regional approach to meet local demand for training.

TAFE SA has advised me that broad consultation was undertaken with industry, business, schools and the community in the Riverland late last year as part of its statewide Improving Access to Education initiative.

In the Riverland, as in regions across the state, TAFE SA found broad support for its strategy of tailoring courses to local needs, being innovative in how it delivers those courses and strengthening its ties with communities and industry.

As part of efforts to refine its training and delivery in the region based on the feedback, TAFE SA has joined with Renmark High School, Renmark Paringa Council, Regional Development Australia Murraylands and Riverland, and the Chaffey Learning Exchange, in the development of the Riverland SmartHub, a new enterprise and innovation precinct planned for the Riverland.

The precinct is designed to provide local people with the business skills they need to revitalise and grow the Riverland's economy. TAFE SA's Renmark campus will be the centre of the precinct as it is developed over the next two years, making TAFE SA ideally placed to align its training with current and emerging needs of the local community and industry.

In the meantime, TAFE SA will continue to deliver training in Renmark and its surrounds using the precinct as well as local business and community sites.

A new qualification—a Certificate III in Micro Business—will be offered from semester 2, 2016 to support Renmark High School's new status as a specialist 'business and enterprise' school.

In early 2016, TAFE SA undertook a review of its Mining, Engineering and Transport, Building and Construction program at Berri campus. One FTE was made excess due to low student enrolment numbers. However, there are no plans to relocate or cease delivering this program at Berri campus.

As part of TAFE SA's regional approach to the Riverland, Berri campus will be upgraded to accommodate staff and programs relocated from the Renmark campus. The transition will occur gradually with timeframes determined in consultation with affected staff and students. Upgrades to the Berri campus will include remodelling the front reception area to improve efficiency and make the campus more welcoming, consolidating staff work stations, and creating a 'skills lab' for Community Services training.

TAFE SA has recently introduced several new programs at the Berri campus, including Children's Services, Leadership and Management, Building and Construction Management, Animal Studies, Media, and Hairdressing. Additionally, training associated with Individual Care is being introduced to the campus, in anticipation of the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

TAFE SA will contact any students affected by these pending changes and provide support to ensure they can complete their qualifications with minimal disruption.

The focus on developing skills, building a flexible industry-focused workforce, and driving economic growth in the Riverland aligns with TAFE SA's commitment to engage with industry and deliver training that meets the demands of local industries and communities now and in the future.

TAFE SA's consultation also provided crucial information about what students, industry and the community need in the way of education and training in Waikerie and the surrounding area. TAFE SA currently delivers a range of training, such as Automotive, Electrotechnology, Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration, Hairdressing, Accounting and Financial Services through community sites and workplaces.

TAFE SA has also recently expanded its short course program and will again offer its highly popular Visual Merchandising workshop in semester 2, 2016.

TAFE SA continues to work with key stakeholders to refine its training and delivery in and around Waikerie to meet local needs.

TAFE SA has recently appointed a Regional Business Development Officer to support the existing Regional Manager in strengthening its ties with Riverland and Murraylands communities and businesses, working closely with schools, business owners and community leaders to ensure TAFE SA's training aligns with current and emerging needs. Beyond this staffing decision, TAFE SA constantly reviews its staffing needs in accordance with training demand and its broader fiscal requirements.

I am advised that there has been a net loss of 1.55 FTE across the three campuses from 30 June 2015 to 30 June 2016.