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TAFE media stories - May 18-22

Posted 22 May 2012 by Justin Westgate (TAFE)

Collation of recent TAFE stories in the media:

http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2012/05/18/484125_latest-news.html
TAFE budget concerns
Sarah Scopelianos |  May 18, 2012
FARMERS are "baffled" by the Victorian Government's vision to double production but decision to slash TAFE budgets.
Victorian Farmers Federation vice president David Jochinke told Weekly Times Now he understood the government wanted a balanced budget but it would come at a great cost.
 
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-18/tafe-budge-cuts-described-as-27vandalism27/4019396/?site=melbourne
TAFE budget cuts described as 'vandalism'
Updated May 18, 2012 14:21:31
The head of one of Victoria's biggest TAFE colleges has accused the Government of putting TAFEs at risk, simply to keep a budget surplus.
Holmesglen TAFE chief executive Bruce Mackenzie says a $30 million cut in the college's budget will mean increased fees, a reduction in services and some staff cuts.
 
http://blogs.abc.net.au/victoria/2012/05/university-of-ballarat-tafe-cuts-full-list-of-courses-axed-in-post-budget-shakeup.html
University of Ballarat TAFE cuts: full list of courses axed in post-budget shakeup
May 18, 2012 , 5:19 PM by Jarrod Watt
ABC Ballarat has received a copy of the document titled 'TAFE restructure consultation paper' which lays out in detail the full extent of cuts to be made to the University of Ballarat TAFE and VET courses.
The document was circulated via email to TAFE staff this morning. Announcing that the State Government's changes to funding in the 2012 State Budget would leave the University $20 million in debt by 2013, the document outlays how the University of Ballarat will reduce its total TAFE activity by 30-40%, and result in further reductions in services and funding throughout the rest of the university.
 
http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/tafe-course-cuts-revealed/2561782.aspx
TAFE course cuts revealed
BY NEELIMA CHOAHAN, 19 May, 2012 07:17 AM
A LIST of proposed cuts to TAFE courses has drawn widespread dismay among Ballarat’s business and community leaders.
The cuts were outlined in a restructure proposal paper sent to University of Ballarat staff for consultation.
 
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/tafes-warn-hundreds-of-jobs-courses-to-be-slashed-20120518-1yw8e.html
TAFEs warn hundreds of jobs, courses to be slashed
Bianca Hall and Benjamin Preiss, May 19, 2012
UP TO 1000 jobs could be slashed from regional and rural TAFEs, while hundreds more are expected at metropolitan campuses.
The warning from TAFE Directors Australia comes as the Baillieu government is refusing to release the modelling it relied on to make wide-ranging cuts to the sector.
But at least five TAFE directors have warned their schools will lose more than $25 million each, with one saying 200 jobs could be lost by early next year.
 
http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/opinion/tafes-cruelest-cuts/2561460.aspx
TAFE's cruelest cuts
WITH ANDREW EALES, 19 May, 2012 12:01 AM
I RECENTLY bumped into one of my former secondary school teachers who has retired to Ballarat.
We had a chat about our city, The Courier and generally the state of the world. He was a teacher who lived on some pretty strict principles of life and had an old school saying to go with almost all of them.
 
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-18/tafe-funding-cuts-fuel-rural-job-worries/4018926/?site=ballarat
TAFE funding cuts fuel rural job worries
Updated May 18, 2012 10:49:47
There are fears cuts to TAFE funding could exacerbate a skills shortage in the agriculture industry.
The State Government reduced funding to the TAFE sector by about $100 million in this month's budget.
The Victorian Farmers Federation says the funding cuts will affect many agricultural courses.
 
http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/short-timeline-on-the-cards-for-redundancies/2561728.aspx
Short timeline on the cards  for  redundancies
BY NEELIMA CHOAHAN
18 May, 2012 11:59 PM
STAFF redundancies at the University of Ballarat TAFE could come into effect in less than two months under a proposed reconstruction program of the education facility.
The TAFE restructure consultation paper suggests a timeline where voluntary redundancy applications are invited by June 15.
In an email sent to the staff, University of Ballarat vice-chancellor David Battersby said the action had to be taken as a result of the proposed closures and cuts to the TAFE funding base.
 
http://www.standard.net.au/news/local/news/general/tafe-must-make-cuts/2561599.aspx
TAFE 'must make cuts'
CLARE QUIRK, 20 May, 2012 04:00 AM
THE head of South West Institute of TAFE says there will be some cuts to services after an “open and frank” meeting yesterday with state government department representatives.
Chief executive Joe Piper and other institute representatives met in Melbourne with the secretary of the Department of Education and the deputy secretary for higher education and skills.
 
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/bush-or-bust-20120519-1yxix.html
Bush or bust
Farrah Tomazin, May 20, 2012
IF TED Baillieu and Peter Ryan learnt anything from the Kennett government's 1999 election defeat, it was probably this: don't enrage country Victoria.
Both the Premier and his deputy were there when regional voters had enough of being treated as the state's ''toenails'' and decided to boot the Coalition from office. Both spent 11 years in opposition paying the price.
 
http://www.educationreview.com.au/pages/section/article.php?s=Breaking+News&idArticle=23760
Cuts to Victorian TAFE slammed
17 May, 2012 | Send this story to a friend
Prime Minister Julia Gillard says the Victorian government is walking away from investment in education with cutbacks to the state's TAFE sector.
Gillard was addressing a public forum at a community cabinet meeting in Berwick, in the Victorian marginal seat of La Trobe.
 
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/sunraysia-tafe-cuts-26-jobs/story-e6frgcjx-1226361844868
Sunraysia TAFE cuts 26 jobs
John Ross, May 21, 2012 8:29AM
THE Victorian TAFE funding cuts have claimed their first victims, after Sunraysia TAFE shed 26 jobs late last week.
Most of the cuts will be forced redundancies, with 24 positions axed at Mildura and two at Swan Hill. Some of the positions are already vacant and voluntary redundancies are also being offered, with staff to leave by mid-July.
 
http://www.greaterdandenongweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/chisholm-tafe-warns-of-cutbacks/2562525.aspx
Chisholm TAFE warns of cutbacks
21 May, 2012 04:00 AM
Chisholm Institute of TAFE says budget cuts of more than $25 million could hurt disadvantaged students and lead to course closures.
The institute is the biggest training provider in Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs, with campuses in Dandenong, Cranbourne, Berwick, Frankston and Rosebud.
 
http://www.theguardian.com.au/news/local/news/general/tafe-cuts-controversy/2562075.aspx
TAFE cuts controversy
ROBERT HENSON
21 May, 2012 04:00 AM
WHILE politicians variously attack and defend cuts to TAFE funding in the state budget, Swan Hill region vocational students are still in the dark about how their education will suffer.
SuniTAFE Institute chief executive officer Win Scott on Thursday confirmed SuniTAFE would receive $3million less over the next three years due to changes in the state budget. This money was to be used to meet staffing, services and infrastructure costs.
 
http://www.caseyweeklycranbourne.com.au/news/local/news/general/chisholm-150-jobs-may-go-due-to-tafe-cuts/2562551.aspx
Chisholm: 150 jobs may go due to TAFE cuts
21 May, 2012 04:00 AM
CHISHOLM Institute teachers say they have been told as many as 150 staff could lose their jobs as a result of a $25 million cut in funding to the institute.
An institute spokeswoman refused to confirm or deny the figures and said the impacts of the cuts, revealed in the state budget, were still being examined.
 
http://sale.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/council-concern-over-tafe-cuts/2556869.aspx
Council concern over TAFE cuts
15 May, 2012 02:48 PM
WELLINGTON Shire Council will tonight voice its concern about the State Budget, in particular cuts to TAFE funding.
At their meeting tonight from 6pm, councillors will vote on whether to write to local State MPs, expressing council's disappointment with the budget.

http://www.sunraysiadaily.com.au/news/local/news/general/sunitafe-rally-called-union-wants-show-of-solidarity-against-decision-to-axe-3m-from-budget/2561606.aspx
SuniTAFE rally called: Union wants show of solidarity against decision to axe $3m from budget
BY LIZ O’ BRIEN, 19 May, 2012 04:00 AM
A RALLY to show solidarity for soon to be redundant SuniTAFE staff will be held next week.
Hundreds of people are expected to attend in protest against the State Government’s decision to axe $3 million from SuniTAFE’s budget.
 
AGE Letters page 20 May 2012-05-21
God bless the child
AS I read Robyn's letter, (''Cry from the heart'', Letters, 13/5) my eyes filled with tears, as we also have an autistic son. Throughout his life, our young man has struggled with relationships. We have had many phone calls from school and other parents telling us of the ''latest situation''. His brothers are constantly dumbfounded by his behaviour, leaving us to gently remind them of unconditional love….
Now that my son has left school, TAFE courses seem to be the answer. Previously at TAFE, he has had support during courses while trying to find his place in life. Unfortunately, we all know that this will no longer be happening. Heaven help those kids with no family support, no unconditional love.
JULIE HODGKINS, Frankston South
 
http://www.thecourier.com.au/news/local/news/general/unions-to-rally-after-cuts-to-tafe-funding/2563474.aspx
Unions to rally after cuts to TAFE funding
BY JORDAN OLIVER, 21 May, 2012 02:40 PM
UNIONS responding to the state government's cuts to TAFE funding will hold a rally in Ballarat on Thursday to further outline their campaign.
This comes after a proposed list of cuts to Ballarat TAFE courses was sent to University of Ballarat staff for consideration last Friday.
 
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2012/05/21/484761_latest-news.html
Country TAFEs need you: Piper
Sarah Scopelianos |  May 21, 2012
COUNTRY communities must use or prepare to lose their local TAFEs and other training providers, a Victorian TAFE chief says.
South West Institute of TAFE chief executive Joe Piper told Weekly Times Now this morning about 80 per cent of course will have reduced government subsidies but agriculture appeared to have faired well compared to other courses.

http://www.northernweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/nmit-multiplies-course-fees-by-five/2563870.aspx
NMIT multiplies course fees by five
BY FRAN CUSWORTH
21 May, 2012 09:35 PM
FEES will be five times higher in some courses at Northern Melbourne Institute of Tafe, its chief executive has confirmed.
Dr Andy Giddy said about 50 courses were likely to be scrapped after the state government this month announced $25 million in cuts to NMIT's programs.
 
http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2012/05/22/327741_news.html
Baillieu TAFE cuts mean spirited, lack vision, says Marles
Mandy Squires   |  May 22nd, 2012
CORIO MP Richard Marles has labelled the State Government's decision to cut TAFE funding as mean-spirited and stupid.
In a speech delivered to Parliament yesterday, the Federal Member for Corio said cutting $300 million from Victoria's TAFE sector, including almost $15 million from Geelong's Gordon TAFE, was "breathtaking in its stupidity and short-sightedness".
 
http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/bendigo-tafe-rally-set-to-fight-government-cutbacks/2563993.aspx
Bendigo TAFE rally set to fight government cutbacks
KRISTEN ALEBAKIS, 22 May, 2012 04:00 AM
A RALLY will be held at Bendigo TAFE on Wednesday in a bid to reverse the Victorian government’s plan to slash $290 million off grants to Victorian institutes.
National Tertiary Education Union Victorian secretary Dr Colin Long said the campaign to overturn the decision had moved into high gear. “Over the next two weeks, the National Tertiary Education Union will be joining with the Australian Education Union and other organisations opposing the cuts, to organise rallies in every regional centre affected by the TAFE cuts,” he said.
 
http://preston-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/state-cuts-hit-preston-and-fairfield-nmit/
HAVE YOUR SAY: State cuts hit Preston and Fairfield NMIT
22 May 12 @ 05:05am by Julia Irwin
MORE than 100 staff could lose their jobs and diploma costs could double at Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE, says its chief executive.
Dr Andrew Giddy told Leader State Budget funding cuts to programs at the TAFE, which has campuses in Fairfield and Preston, would have substantial impact on staff and students.
 
http://www.sunraysiadaily.com.au/news/local/news/news-features/show-tafe-support-strength-in-numbers-will-embarrass-the-government-says-cupper/2563770.aspx
Show TAFE support: Strength in numbers will embarrass the government, says Cupper
BY LIZ O’ BRIEN, 22 May, 2012 04:00 AM
LOCALS are being encouraged to get behind a rally at SuniTAFE tomorrow. About 300 people are expected to attend the TAFE4ALL rally, including staff facing redundancies caused by the State Government’s $3 million funding cuts.
SuniTAFE’s union representative, Rachel Neumann yesterday said the redundancies had hit the institute’s 300-strong staff hard.