By LIA SPENCER
TAFE changes were the topic of discussion when the State Opposition Leader visited Berwick this week.
On Tuesday, Labor Party leader Daniel Andrews met with Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan to discuss what impact the State Government’s changes to TAFE were having on the local area.
The meeting followed a recent decision by Higher Education and Skills Minister Peter Hall to dismiss half of Victoria’s 14 TAFE board chairs including Chisholm Institute chairman David Willersdorf.
Mr Hall said the changes in TAFE boards would have no adverse impact on students.
However, Mr Andrews said the changes were insulting.
“The Napthine Government has slashed $30 million from Chisholm’s annual budget in last year’s massive TAFE cuts,” Mr Andrews said.
“To add insult to injury, (Mr Hall) sacked the chair of Chisholm’s board, David Willersdorf. Mr Willersdorf, who personally turned a family business into a $400 million operation, was sacked last week by Mr Hall, who said when he announced the sackings that he wanted to strengthen the economic credentials of TAFE boards.”
Mr Donnellan said the change of Premier had made no difference to families needing to up-skill or retrain in the south-eastern suburbs, and Mr Napthine needed to visit Berwick and “see what damage” his Government was doing to Chisholm and TAFE across the state.
Mr Hall said the changes to the composition of TAFE boards during the first half of 2013 was foreshadowed by the Government’s response to the TAFE Reform Panel report.
“ Legislative changes, which passed with bi-partisan support, require TAFE boards to be reconstituted,” Mr Hall said.
“The focus of a TAFE board is shifting from an advisory model to one of commercial focus. The move to a market-based system for vocational training has been pursued by the Victorian Coalition Government and the former Labor government. “
Mr Hall said the TAFE Reform Panel recommended that TAFE institutes had strengthened, professional skills-based boards that have greater autonomy and enhanced accountability to reflect their commercial objectives.
“That’s why it’s important that TAFE boards have a diverse range of skills that puts them in an even better position to make smart business decisions and compete more effectively,” Mr Hall said.
“These recommendations were based on consultations that the panel conducted with TAFE board chairs and chief executives.”
Mr Hall said changes in TAFE boards would have no adverse impact on students and “strengthened, professional skills-based boards” would ensure that TAFES remain sustainable, and focus on delivering training that leads to students getting jobs.
“The Government is right behind Chisholm TAFE, and we want it to continue to thrive. We will continue to support Chisholm TAFE build on its strengths, so it can continue to be a magnificent asset for the community,” Mr Hall said.
“New chairs for TAFEs will be appointed soon. “
Mr Hall said that in 2012, there were 12,100 enrolments in government-subsidised training in Casey, which was 50 per cent higher than the previous year. He said Casey had a student participation rate of 17 per cent, which is above the Melbourne metropolitan average of 12 per cent.
