Changes and challenges for TAFE CIT Council breakfast seminar 30 July 2014 Pam Caven Director Policy & Stakeholder Engagement, TAFE Directors Australia

TAFE Directors Australia represents 58 publicly funded TAFE institutions: represents its members on key government policy bodies organises an annual conference & seminars keeps members informed via a weekly newsletter; and makes submissions to key government enquiries. The role of TAFE Directors Australia

Changes The implementation of national entitlement Changing governance arrangements VET investment models The introduction of a changed regulatory framework

Implementation of national entitlement No common agreement across Australia’s States and Territories about: the nature of entitlements for students, the quality criteria that should be applied to providers in receipt of public funds, and the governance arrangements for public providers, recognition of the role of public providers in servicing local communities.

Changing price mechanisms have led to a constantly changing and confusing situation for learners and enterprises Severe financial difficulties for some TAFE institutes – campus closures, mergers, courses withdrawn and staff retrenched Quality provision at risk Costs of national entitlement

The challenge to TAFE Institutes is how to remain a provider of choice to business and the community and to regain market share.

Refocus on core strengths Become meaner and leaner, while setting the benchmarks for quality Articulate to governments the benefits of a network of public providers for the Australian economy and society Promote the achievements of TAFE Educate of the public and business about the range of employment outcomes for graduates of TAFE

In a number of States and Territories new statutory authorities have been established outside the traditional Department of Education structures. Changing governance arrangements

Ensure that new governance arrangements give TAFE institutes greater capacity to prosper in an increasingly competitive market. Maximise their competitive capacity within the existing governance arrangements. CHALLENGE

TAFE Institutes have suffered recent funding cuts of $80 million in NSW, $79 million in Queensland and now an estimated $83 million in South Australia, while Western Australia has tripled many of its TAFE fees and the tendency is to take resources out rather than putting them in” (John Ross HES The Australian January ). Industry Skills Fund (ISF) New investment models for VET

TDA/TAFE to work with governments to Ensure that funding principles do not financially reward RTOs for short changing students or industry or minimising the skills development time. Encourage business and employers to engage more fully with educational institutions in the educational/training process. Develop a funding model for VET that ensures parity is maintained with universities and schools CHALLENGES FOR TAFE

TDA supports the principles that underpin the proposed standards: Greater engagement with industry Quality training and assessment Cutting red tape The introduction of a changed regulatory framework

Advocacy to ensure that TAFE institutes as low risk providers have greater recognition within the standards including being granted delegation to change their scope of registration CHALLENGE

“ We simply cannot afford to see VET as the “also ran” of education”

Thank you…