Today, I have tabled in Parliament, the full independent TasTAFE audit report ahead of schedule.
The report contains findings and recommendations across nine areas including credit card usage, recruitment and travel and accommodation.
All recommendations have been accepted by TasTAFE and are expected to largely be implemented by the end of the year and this will be coordinated by a project team, with oversight by a Steering Committee reporting to the Executive and Board.
Some recommendations have already been implemented and have resulted in significant improvements within the organisation. I wish to highlight the professionalism of both the auditors and TasTAFE staff throughout the audit process and in promptly moving to implement recommendations.
TasTAFE Chief Executive Officer Jenny Dodd said “The audit found that overall TasTAFE had contemporary policies and practices in many of the areas it reviewed. However, it also identified that there was a lack of leadership within TasTAFE in respect to monitoring the adoption of these policies and procedures.”
“We have learnt from this report, and we have already put in place a range of measures to address the recommendations of the WLF audit including providing ethics training to all managers and strengthened processes around recruitment and selection” Ms Dodd said.
The report highlights the nature of an organisation in transition, and with a new outstanding Chair and CEO we have strong leadership and governance of TasTAFE. I am confident, that through this, all necessary work to implement report recommendations can be done.
The number one priority for me throughout this process has been to support the TasTAFE workforce and ensure students are not affected. We can now move on, and look forward to what is an exciting new chapter for TasTAFE. A new chapter, which includes ongoing funding certainty for TasTAFE, with the Tasmanian Government committing a minimum of 70 per cent of the state training budget to TasTAFE into the future.
We are also turbo charging our training system, providing an additional $15.5 million to establish TasTAFE Centres of Excellence and support trainees and apprentices in key industry areas.
My focus, as it has always been, is on the future of TasTAFE – an organisation that is integral to Tasmania’s future in providing the skills needed for our growing workforce and I thank all TasTAFE staff for their commitment in what has been a tough but productive time.
I would also like to take the opportunity to thank the independent auditors WLF for their hard work and diligence.
A copy of the full report can be found here: https://www.tastafe.tas.edu.au/about/reports-and-publications/
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