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One campus, three staff: is TAFE ready for WorkReady?

Jun 24, 2015
The TAFE campus in Coober Pedy.

The TAFE campus in Coober Pedy.

An expansive Coober Pedy campus of TAFE has only three employees, raising questions about the Weatherill Government’s plan to shift the bulk of skills training subsidies into the public sector.

Labor’s push to replace its failed Skills For All program with WorkReady, which favours TAFE over private providers, has prompted claims private training firms could go to the wall, with regional SA likely to suffer most acutely.

InDaily has confirmed the regional centre of Coober Pedy’s campus, which was considered state of the art only a decade ago, is practically empty, with the local council concerned for its future viability.

Last year, the Coober Pedy council resolved to make the campus issue a Key Strategic Priority, noting it was a “great” but “under-utilised” facility that was “fast becoming a ‘white elephant’”.

“There is a long list of interested people looking to do courses, however there has been very little action on providing any actual training and courses to the residents,” the council website states.

“This does little to enhance employment and skill development within this remote and isolated community.”

The campus used to offer classes in cutting and polishing opal, but according to the council minutes “that facility was withdrawn some years ago to a campus located within metro Adelaide, which has also ceased doing that course”.

Mayor Stephen Staines told InDaily the facility was in “very good condition”, but “hasn’t been (properly) utilised for a long time”.

He said he wasn’t sure if the three staff were full or part time, and was unconvinced the training model “worked too well”.

“Certainly not in Coober Pedy, it didn’t,” he said.

“The problem, especially in regional areas, is the cost of delivering the services…with lecturers flown in and provided accommodation.”

Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills Gail Gago was asked about the “operational status” of the campus in parliament this month, including the number of staff, but refused to answer, arguing: “They are all day-to-day operational matters.”

“TAFE SA is an independent statutory corporation, and the board is responsible for its day-to-day operations,” she said.

“They are all detailed issues, and I invite the honourable member to write to or contact the chair of the board or the chief executive officer; they would have all of that detailed information at their fingertips.”

However, when InDaily asked a series of questions to TAFE about the campus, the following response was provided by email: “TAFE SA offers a wide range of learning options across its network including courses offered by online, face-to-face and through blended training.

“Flexible training means TAFE SA can offer additional courses as required, subject to local demand.”

In response to repeated specific queries, a subsequent response was sent: “There are currently three staff and access to an online network of lecturers across the state at the TAFE SA Coober Pedy Campus.”

Last week’s state budget outlines the magnitude of cuts to the Government’s skills training sector, with $43.7 million spent in 2013-14 for “a higher number of targeted voluntary separation packages” than anticipated, and a further $3.2 million expected in the current year.

The Opposition has obtained Treasury figures suggesting the number of full-time TAFE employees is expected to shrink from 2319 this year to 1799 in 2017-18.

Liberal spokesman David Pisoni said today the Government was budgeting for a further 115 job losses in TAFE next year.

“The Weatherill Government created a jobs boom in the training sector and is now delivering a jobs bust in the same sector,” he said.

“With South Australia now suffering an unemployment rate of 7.6 per cent, the highest in Australia, the Weatherill Government’s budget mismanagement is set to add thousands more to the dole queues…the debacle in the training sector is a powerful illustration of how poorly the Weatherill Government plans for the future.”

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