Immediately upon being elected, the Malinauskas Labor Government begun the work to rebuild TAFE SA. This included returning early childhood, aged care and disability courses in metropolitan campuses banned by the former Liberal Government, upgrading TAFE SA’s Mount Gambier campus and being the first state to introduce fee-free TAFE courses.
The Minister for Education, Training and Skills, Blair Boyer, also commissioned a Roadmap for the Future of TAFE SA to engage with industry, unions, government, TAFE SA staff and students on the long-term changes needed to ensure TAFE SA is best placed to deliver the skills needs for the State.
Undertaken by tertiary education expert and Associate Professor at Victoria University, Jeannie Rea, the Roadmap sets out an ambitious 10-year plan to place TAFE SA as the public training provider, back at the centre of South Australia’s training system.
It’s a pivotal time to continue to build on the success TAFE SA has had over the past 12 months following the change in direction by our government – including enrolments surging more than 20 per cent. As of July 2023, TAFE SA had 41,770 enrolments, compared to 33,756 at the same time last year.
The increase in the last financial year is the first time TAFE SA enrolments have increased since 2012-13.
Courses with the strongest increase in enrolments this year include early childhood education and care, cyber security, information technology and project management. Most popular courses for 2023 also include electrical and plumbing qualifications.
Associate Professor Rae’s report details the significant impacts the previous reduction in courses and students, funding reductions, and campus closures has had on TAFE SA – and its students – since the Act was changed in 2012.
The structure of the Roadmap is framed around six goals:
- Transforming South Australia
- Industry Partnered
- Job Outcomes
- Students at the centre
- Place-based
- Future focused
The government has accepted all six goals set out in the Roadmap and will take six immediate actions to begin the implementation rebuilding TAFE.
The first action is to begin the work to amend the TAFE SA Act. The objectives of the current Act do not reflect what the community expects from TAFE and it gives the government restricted influence in ensuring the State’s skills priorities are met.
Changing the Act will ensure a modern TAFE SA with a legislated commitment to delivering high quality education and training as its core purpose, a commitment to delivering on State priority areas such as defence and renewable energy, a stronger requirement to ensure regional and rural communities have access to the training they deserve, and a dedicated focus on supporting the most disadvantaged South Australians to access training that leads to employment.
The other immediate actions that will focus on student outcomes include:
- Implementing an enhanced student enrolment process
- Developing a new Reconciliation Action Plan
- Consulting on the shared use of TAFE SA campuses to benefit broader local communities
- Accelerating the implementation of TAFE SA’s Student Hubs
- Offering more courses in regional and rural South Australia (funded in the 2023-24 State Budget).
The further recommended actions in the report will be considered alongside the new National Skills Agreement (NSA), which is currently being negotiated with the
Federal Government.
TAFE SA will develop a new Strategic Plan to incorporate the remaining actions, which will be released following South Australia reaching an agreement on the NSA.
TAFE SA is at the forefront of course development and innovation for industry and community transition focusing upon areas including health and community services, renewable energy such as hydrogen, space and defence, manufacturing, decarbonising across industries, the industrial application of artificial intelligence as well as having a pivotal role in the transformation of SMEs for environmental sustainability.
The Roadmap for the Future of TAFE SA can be found at
https://www.education.sa.gov.au/department/strategies-and-plans/tafe-sa-roadmap-for-the-future
As put by Blair Boyer
For too long, TAFE SA has not been given the support it deserves to ensure South Australians get the skills they need. I have been working tirelessly to rebuild TAFE
SA and today is the next step in setting it up for the future.
We have made important progress over the past 18 months with TAFE SA enrolments growing this year for the first time since 2012 – a testament to the work we have already taken to restore confidence in TAFE SA among South Australians.
However, there is a lot more to do. These immediate actions will increase training opportunities for South Australians, create a more inclusive environment, and ensure it is easier to access TAFE, and ensure TAFE SA delivers what the community expects through new legislation.
The Malinauskas Labor Government is making the reforms needed to education, training and skills in South Australia for the benefit of future generation – from amalgamating our universities to reforming the TAFE SA Act.
I thank Jeannie Rea for her important work and commitment to creating a more modern, relevant and inclusive TAFE for South Australia.
