The New TAFE Queensland – influence the future AUSTAFE State Conference, Brisbane 21 August 2014 Pam Caven Director Policy & Stakeholder Engagement, TAFE Directors Australia

My presentation Key aspects of the VET Reform Agenda: The implementation of national entitlement VET investment models Industry led reform A changed regulatory framework Apprenticeships Expanded access to Commonwealth Supported Places

TDA’s perspective in a nutshell TAFE is a public asset and should be acknowledged for its contribution to the Australian economy and local communities TAFE needs to become meaner and leaner TAFE sets the benchmarks for quality VET provision with an articulated set of quality performance, governance and risk measures.

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for learners and enterprises Severe financial difficulties for some TAFE institutes – campus closures, mergers, courses withdrawn and staff retrenched Quality provision at risk Costs of national entitlement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

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 ). 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 Ensure parity is maintained with universities and schools TDA comment

TDA promoting the following principles to 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 TDA comment

$476 million Industry Skills Fund (ISF) Vocational Education and Training Advisory Board Industry led reform

Commonwealth programs abolished: Accelerated Australian Apprenticeships Program Australian Apprenticeship Access Alternative Pathways Programme Australian Apprenticeships Mentoring Program Workforce English Language and Literacy (WELL) Program Apprenticeship to Business Owner Program Australian Apprenticeships Access Program Step Into Skills Program Incentives for higher technical skills Skills Connect Fund Apprenticeships

The Kemp/Norton review Proposed extension of Commonwealth Supported Places to 80,000 students doing diplomas and associate degrees at TAFEs and private colleges Students, who currently have to pay full fees course costs covered partly by the Commonwealth Commonwealth Supported Places

We must see TAFE as the provider of choice for those industries that require skills of high value and quality

Thank you…