TAFE views
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 126 No 2, 12 March 2021, page no. 20
CQU staff retention
Vocational educator staff attraction and retention have historically been an Achilles Heel in central Queensland, morphing into an almost complete disabling of vocational education delivery within the college of trades at CQU. One could deduce that management has failed to heed the lessons of the past. Job-ready, suitably trade-qualified educators with mandated minimum teaching qualifications are not in over supply. Mentoring programs to nurture and ensure teaching integration and supervision are imperative. Realistic expectations and encouragement are equally vital. Vocational educators should be afforded value if staff attraction and retention are to improve. The Foundation Educator classification in TAFE Qld provides a suitable model to provide this. Andy Abbas
Guaranteed funding
Guaranteed funding for TAFE is critical for the key role it will play in the post-COVID-19 economic recovery, re-skilling and upskilling many thousands of Australians and getting them back to work. Government-led support and dedicated funding are required, particularly to support the Cert IV skills that are key to building a solid foundation to underpin diploma programs. Sadly, the approach seems to be to adopt a no-risk policy, so those unsubsidised courses tend not to run in the absence of government funding, even when supported by industry. Guaranteed funding for Cert IV would lead to a greater depth of understanding for many students, who generally have no or few qualifications or industry experience. Scott Green
The right to VET
The Queensland Human Rights Act 2019 states that “every person has the right to have access, based on the person’s abilities, to further vocation education and training that is equally accessible to all”. To me, this means providing a publicly funded system that is not always based on immediate fiscal concerns, but also long-term social return. This investment can result in reduced welfare expenditure, human connection, and social development. Unlike for-profit providers, TAFE institutes are traditionally commited to ensuring access and equity, With TAFE funding and management of training currently viewed through a business rather than an education lens, this issue should be explored further from a human rights viewpoint. Suewellyn Kelly