The rollout of the government’s new Smart and Skilled program commences in January 2015 and is designed to provide students with access to a greater number of training providers and a fixed fee structure which will encourage competition based on quality rather price.

Students enrolling in government subsidised courses will have new student fee and eligibility requirements and approved training providers across the private and public sector will have new subsidy arrangements and contract obligations.

North Coast TAFE is among training providers across the coast to tender for a contract to deliver the Smart and Skilled program. Tenders for training provider contracts closed on August 8. The assessment of applications, allocation of training places and the offering of contracts to successful Smart and Skilled providers will roll out in October.

Institute Director, Elizabeth McGregor, said TAFE will continue to review its business practices and service delivery in light of the reforms and increased competition, to ensure it meets the needs of students. This year has seen an extensive internal restructure of management and review of offered courses.

“We’ve always had to adjust our delivery to meet changing demand from industry and community. Some courses may go, but many more are added, particularly in areas of high demand like aged care, business, community services and children’s services,“ Mrs McGregor said.

“While some jobs are going, others are starting up. For instance, we have a big demand for instructional designers now, and for online teaching and customer service staff. Our management model for campuses has changed, so while we no longer have the old campus manager model, we have just recruited new local leaders of community and business engagement to cover all our campuses and communities.”

North Coast TAFE enrolments for 2014 are up by 30 per cent with 9000 more students undertaking study, including 1000 students in TAFE’s new online campus.

“Just like every business in Australia we have to reorganise the way we operate because people want their services delivered differently, and in a more personalised way and that’s our aim - to move with the trends in demand,” Mrs McGregor said.

“We are determined that TAFE services in our region will continue and grow. And if they look different, that’s probably a good sign that we’re staying up to date.”

The Australian Education Union (AEU) has been critical through its Stop The TAFE Cuts campaign, of the federal and state governments’ financial commitment to TAFE and the VET sector. The AEU claims more than $1 billion in funding cuts nationwide, the cessation of training programs, fee increases and job losses paints an ominous future.

Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams said TAFE will continue to the be the public VET provider in NSW.

“The NSW 2014-15 State Budget allocated $1.86 billion for TAFE NSW,” Mrs Williams said. “Since the election of the NSW Liberals and Nationals government in March 2011, funding for vocational education and training has increased by 11 per cent.

“Under our reforms 46,000 more students will be able to access training in 2015 than would be possible under current arrangements; students will have increased choice with one set of fees applying per qualification for all providers; students will know their fees up front; and a strong quality framework and fixed prices will ensure competition on quality not price.”

THE move to a market-based vocational training system will destroy  NSW TAFE  as it is forced to compete with private providers.

This is the view of NSW Labor Opposition leader John Robertson who put a bill to Parliament earlier this month in a bid to cap fee increases for government subsidised TAFE courses to ensure education and training remains accessible and affordable for all students.

Mr Robertson said the state government’s reforms, in the midst of a youth unemployment crisis, will have a disastrous impact on TAFE.

“In just three years it has cut $800 million from the system. It is sacking 1100 teachers and staff, slashing courses from the curriculum and doubling, trebling and in some cases even quadrupling the cost of a  degree,” Mr Robertson said.

“TAFE, at its best, is a gateway to an exciting new world of knowledge, the wisdom of qualified teachers and counsellors, and it is designed to help every person onto a pathway that fits their aspirations in life. 

“In Labor’s view, a properly resourced TAFE system is an essential bedrock of a humane, civilised and compassionate NSW. By contrast, the Liberals have one vision for TAFE in NSW and that’s to bludgeon it, downsize it, eventually privatise it and run it as a business.”

Mr Robertson said the Smart and Skilled reforms will price students out of training from January 1, 2015, claiming up to 40 per cent of students will pay between $500 and $1500 more for course fees.