The Minister for Education & Skills, Nick McKim, today announced that Tasmania will have a new single public Vocational Education and Training provider called TasTAFE.

 

Releasing the Report of the Review of the role and function of Tasmania's public VET providers, Mr McKim said the Government had accepted the overwhelming majority of the 60 recommendations made in the report.

 

 "TasTAFE will be created for public sector VET in Tasmania, using the combined resources of the Tasmanian Skills Institute and the Tasmanian Polytechnic," Mr McKim said.

 

"It will be a one-stop-shop for both industry and individuals and will result in quality training, improved outcomes and ease of access for learners.

 

"This decision means that we will move from what is currently a fragmented and inefficient structure to one that is coherent, connected and streamlined.

 

"It will be a new entity with a new structure.

 

"TasTAFE will be headed by a CEO and a Board accountable to the Minister for Education and Skills.

 

"The CEO position will be advertised and filled as soon as possible to allow the candidate sufficient lead-in time oversee the implementation process and shape the vision and culture of TasTAFE."

 

Mr McKim said the use of the brand TAFE was important in creating a clearly recognised organisation.

 

"TAFE is well understood locally, nationally and internationally.

 

"While the branding sees a return to TAFE, this is not a return to the TAFE Tasmania of the past.

 

"Significant gains have been made over the past three years which will not be lost, including greater flexibility for industry, increased pathways for individuals, and better VET access for Year 11 and 12 students."

 

 Mr McKim said that subject to the passing of legislation, the new arrangements will take effect from 1 July 2013.

 

The Tasmanian Polytechnic and Skills Institute will continue to operate and deliver training to learners up until the time TasTAFE begins, with TasTAFE then taking on this role.

 

"The timeframe will allow the change to be well managed and implemented.

 

"A high level implementation group, headed by the Department of Education Secretary, will commence work as soon as possible, and will release an implementation plan before 31 July 2012.

 

"Group membership will consist of appropriate key stakeholders and will be announced shortly.

 

"Staff will be supported and kept well informed throughout the transition."

 

Mr McKim said there was broad support for the change.

 

"All stakeholders had extensive opportunity to give feedback during the consultation process and the overwhelming view of those who participated was the establishment of a single VET entity," he said.

 

"I thank Ms Simmons for providing such a comprehensive set of recommendations that will position Tasmania well for the future."

 

Mr McKim said key recommendations also included:

 

• VET in Tasmania being covered by one piece of legislation to create an integrated and connected VET system
• Building on the existing relationship between the public VET sector in Tasmania and the University of Tasmania to strengthen tertiary education. 

 

He said two recommendations that were not accepted  (28 and 30) related to changing the names of Skills Tasmania and the Department of Education.

 

"These were not essential to implementing the major recommendations, and factors such as the cost of signage were taken into account.

 

"The Government noted a third recommendation (27) relating to clarifying the roles of Skills Tasmania and the Department of Education with respect to vocational education and training.  More work will be done on this recommendation."

 

The report and a summary of the Government's response to it is available on the Department of Education website:  www.education.tas.gov.au