Ed,

As we enter the post COVID 19 recovery phase, TAFE is perfectly positioned in every community to provide the necessary provide pathways into work for their youth and re-skilling opportunities for the many Australians who find themselves unemployed or underemployed.

But at a time when Australia needs TAFE more than ever, TAFE colleges are struggling with teacher shortages.

Over the past decade of Liberal/National NSW Governments, there has been a dramatic decrease in teaching staff of over 52%.

Teachers that are left to face unsustainable workloads as a result and with wages falling 10% behind their school colleagues, insecure work for 77% and as a result TAFE teachers are choosing early retirement.

With the new Labor Federal Government offering 120,000 fee free TAFE courses in areas of critical skill shortages, it is envisaged student numbers will grow in 2023. However, what good are free courses if there are no teachers to teach them and how will teachers be attracted to the TAFE teaching profession when many can earn more back in their industry.

Many small communities have already had their TAFE colleges, sold off by successive coalition state governments embarked on building small ‘shop front’ alternatives instead. Once a standalone connected learning centre has been built in a community, the local TAFE College comes under serious threat of being sold.

Public assets belong to us, the communities of NSW. They are not the Government’s to sell at whim.

It is clear that Liberal/National state governments continue to put regional TAFE colleges at threat.

If elected in March a Labor state government has promised to restore TAFE as the permanent public provider of VET education. Teachers will have pathways to permanency and fairer wages.

Regional communities like ours, will be assured that every young person or experienced worker looking to gain new skills or upgrade existing skills and knowledge, will have the opportunity to do so, in a well-funded, resourced and accessible local TAFE College.

Sharryn Usher,

President

NSW TAFE Teachers Association