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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-12-02 Daily Xml
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TAFE SA

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:25): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills questions in relation to TAFE.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: The state currently receives approximately $65 million a year from the commonwealth government under the national partnership agreement so that students receive subsidised training at a provider of their choice of which 90 per cent currently goes to TAFE. Given that TAFE has spent almost $60 million in separation packages only to retain the same staffing levels and incur increased staff costs, has TAFE effectively spent South Australia's federal training grant on its own staff separation packages?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:26): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. It's incredibly mischievous of him, the Hon. Stephen Wade, to come into this place and make that suggestion. He knows only too well that I have recorded in this place on many occasions the fact that TAFE is increasing their number of training positions this year compared with last year, and I've formally put those figures on the record.

He knows only too well that TAFE will be producing more training outcomes than in previous years, and that is part of the arrangements in relation to about 90 per cent of the new enrolment-subsidised training positions being allocated to TAFE. It was just, as I have indicated in this place before, for this year alone. That figure comes down in future years as the pipeline empties out, and as the current enrolment is emptied out of the system, and I have indicated that that will help increase the allocation of subsidised training places to private RTOs.

Also, I have indicated, with the arrangements, particularly for this year, and with some assistance next year but not to the same degree as this year, that TAFE is undergoing a significant transition task to reform the model of training that they provide to ensure that more people have access to training and that the model of training is more efficient and more effective.

We know that there is a great deal of TAFE infrastructure that is not fit for purpose, and also the training options have moved on, given the significant impact of information technology. More students are wanting to do their training, or components of the training, online, and so the demands from the customer have changed as well. So, their expectations have changed.

TAFE have undertaken an extensive consultation region by region with a wide cross-section of stakeholders to understand each region's needs in terms of its training, and to facilitate the design of improved training for South Australians.

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