Job cuts set to impact local TAFE providers

Students and staff studying at GOTAFE facilities in Northern Victoria will suffer as more than 60 jobs are set to be cut following a major restructure.

GOTAFE campuses set to be affected include those situated in Benalla, Seymour, Shepparton, and Wangaratta, who are facing yet another restructure, their fourth in the last five years.

The Nationals’ Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, has expressed deep concern following the announcement of Regional TAFE staff cuts.

“Under the Allan Labor Government, thousands of students are failing to complete courses, and many employees dissatisfied with their working conditions,” Ms Cleeland said.

“These news cuts to regional TAFE jobs will only deepen the strain on a system which is struggling to meet the needs of its students and staff.

“With this restructuring set to directly impact TAFEs in my region, I have put forward questions to the Minister asking for more information on the extent of these changes and job cuts.”

The impending staff cuts come as staff members of institutions within the area continue to grapple with high workloads, with many being forced to work unpaid overtime as a result of Labor’s decade-long mismanagement of the TAFE system.

The devastating impact of this mismanagement has already been seen through drops in staff morale and student results, including a 30 per cent decrease in staff roles, from 594 just five years ago to just 413 full-time equivalent roles now.

This is despite all campuses seeing an overall growth in enrolment by 500 students.

Minister for Skills and TAFE, Gayle Tierney, has been immediately called upon to support and save a TAFE sector at crisis-point under the Labor Government.