Education and Training Minister Jeremy Rockliff cannot continue to distance himself from growing and concerning issues within TasTAFE and reveal if accreditation of the enrolled nursing course is at threat.
Shadow TAFE, University and Skills Minister Michelle O’Byrne said the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council had advised that TasTAFE is not up to standard and has until May to rectify the issue.
“It’s no longer good enough for Jeremy Rockliff to turn away and claim that TAFE issues are operational and internal,” Ms O’Byrne said.
“He can longer be hands off.
“Not only do we know there are significant training courses being delayed or not being run at all and not only do we have a three per cent fee increase for students across the board, we now have significant concerns about whether the enrolled nursing course will achieve accreditation.
“What’s concerning about that is not only that TAFE is not up to standard but there are serious unanswered questions.
“How long has the government known this is a problem? What actions is it taking and what is in the future for those students who are currently engaged in this course?
“Will we be able to meet our enrolled nursing workforce needs into the future?
“It’s up to the government and Jeremy Rockliff to come clean about the deficiencies.
“Mr Rockliff needs to ensure that our enrolled nursing students are supported and he needs to make sure that teachers are supported.
“Students need to be supported to get through training courses so that they can join this workforce that desperately needs them.
“We already have a shortage of nurses in our hospitals and in our aged care sector and Mr Rockliff needs to step in and ensure that training is up to scratch so that shortage does not become worse.”
Michelle O’Byrne MP
Shadow TAFE, University and Skills Minister
