TAFE cuts- new twist

By LIA SPENCER
THE State Government has denied TAFE funding cuts were targeted at women after a local Labour MP said they were a “kick in the gut” to every young Casey female who wanted to do a Chisholm course.
Narre Warren South MP Judith Graley spoke in Parliament about the impact of State Government funding cuts to Victoria’s TAFE system. Ms Graley said that an analysis by the Victorian TAFE Association revealed that the $290 million in cuts would disadvantage women students in TAFE on average twice as much, and up to five times more than males.
Ms Graley said that the State Government had now created further barriers to women seeking to forge a new career path or re-enter the workforce.
But Skills Minister Peter Hall last month said the Victorian TAFE Association’s claims were outrageous. Last week, James Martin, spokesperson for Mr Hall, said Ms Graley’s comments were made “without foundation” and were aimed at playing politics.
Ms Graley said the association discovered that courses popular with women would have their funding cut by up to 85 per cent.
“This is in stark contrast to apprenticeship courses dominated by men who will only see cuts of around six per cent,” she said.
“The courses set to be savaged include courses in children’s services, hospitality, retail, business administration and community services. This is a kick in the guts to every young woman in Casey who wanted to do a course at Chisholm.”
Ms Graley said that Narre Warren South Year 12 student Nicole Spargo said she had been planning to study at TAFE next year but was now reassessing because there was no guarantee that she would get in at the local campuses or that the course will go ahead next year.
“It is completely unacceptable that a wonderful and hardworking young woman like Nicole is now unable to study at a TAFE next year, and there are thousands of young Nicoles across the state who are being discriminated against by this government’s attack on TAFE,” Ms Graley said.
Last month, Mr Hall said VTA claims that courses “popular with women” would be funded at a lower rate were outrageous and not backed by facts.
“I categorically reject the VTA’s assertion that Victorian women engaged in vocational education will be worse off under the recent funding reforms,” Mr Hall said.
“The TAFE Association has looked at 10 courses undertaken mostly by women and in at least some of the classes, lied about the impact of the recent reforms. Funding for high level certificates in children’s services and community services have actually increased by up to as much as eight per cent. The TAFE Association’s statements amount to lies.”
Skills spokesman James Martin said the State Government had been able to disprove Ms Graley’s claims and was, in fact, directing an extra $1 billion over the next four years into training courses that would deliver real jobs to women and men.
“An independent report from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research has confirmed that Victoria invests more in vocational education and training than any other state,” Mr Martin said.
“Once again this highlights that the first casualty of Ms Graley’s political war against the government is truth.”