The Andrews Labor Government is rebuilding Victoria’s struggling TAFE system, with
South West Institute of TAFE to share in the first $20 million of emergency
funding to save campuses at risk of collapse.
New figures have revealed the extent of damage of the Coalition’s cuts to TAFE,
with forecast losses of $71.8 million across the sector for 2014.
In response to this crisis, Minister for Training and Skills, Steve Herbert joined
Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney, at the Warrnambool Campus to
announce that South West TAFE was one of seven TAFEs eligible for fast tracked
funding from the $320 million TAFE Rescue Fund.
The fast-tracked funding will help TAFEs in financial turmoil to stay afloat, so
they can retain staff and improve training, courses and job opportunities for
students.
The Labor Government’s $320 million TAFE Rescue Fund is the first step to repairing our
TAFE system after the previous Coalition Government’s TAFE cuts brought the
sector to its knees.
The TAFE cuts hit South West TAFE hard, resulting in job losses, course closures
and a declining share of the training market, meaning fewer local students got
the skills they need.
A strong local TAFE and increased training delivery is vital to the Andrews Labor
Government’s Back to Work plan to
grow jobs.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Training and Skills, Steve Herbert
“The Coalition’s TAFE cuts made it so much harder for our kids to get skills, get a job and build a better life.”
“This is an emergency. With TAFEs running up more than $70 million in losses last year, there are TAFE campuses across Victoria on the brink of collapse and our TAFE Rescue Fund will keep them alive”
Quotes attributable to Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney
“The Labor Government is rebuilding our TAFE system and rescuing campuses like South West TAFE in Warrnambool, so young people across South-West Victoria can get the skills they need for the jobs they want.”
