2 December 2020

Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Education and Training

New TasTAFE CEO appointed

I am pleased to announce that Grant Dreher has been appointed as the new CEO of TasTAFE, commencing 1 February 2021.

Mr Dreher brings a wealth of experience in vocational education and training and was selected from a highly competitive field of experienced candidates.

Mr Dreher has a strong background of working in regional areas, including as General Manager Education and Training, Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE.

He is currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Vocational Education and Pathways at Victoria University Melbourne and is responsible for their VET Division and College, higher education diplomas, and pathways college targeted at international students.

I would also like to acknowledge our outgoing CEO, Jenny Dodd, for her outstanding leadership which has transformed the organisation over the past three years.

Upon her arrival, Ms Dodd put in place a number of actions to stabilise TasTAFE and make it more accountable, more responsive and more student-focused. TasTAFE has achieved an incredible amount in the past three years including:

• Some of the highest student satisfaction rates in Australia, with 91.6% of students recommending their training;
• Receiving the maximum 7 year re-accreditation with their regulator, which is a clear endorsement of the quality of teaching staff and courses;
• Delivering two new health training hubs at Launceston and Hobart that will see more nurses trained;
• Supporting the highest apprentice completion rates in the country given TasTAFE train around 60% of all Tasmanian apprentices;
• Providing more than 500 Tasmanians with employability skills through their COVID  Skill Up for Your Future initiative; and
• Embracing the challenges of COVID-19 with a quick transition to digitally supported learning, combined with a plan to reinstate practical training as soon as it was safe.

All of these achievements were recognised with TasTAFE being shortlisted for Large Training Provider of the Year at the 2020 Australian Training Awards, and two of their students going on to win national awards.

TasTAFE plays a vital role in meeting Tasmania’s skills needs and Mr Dreher’s experience and expertise will build on the transformative work Ms Dodd has delivered for students and teachers.

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