INVERELL TAFE is all systems go, powering into 2015 with optimism in the face of challenges presented by the NSW Smart and Skilled reforms.
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Newly appointed TAFE New England (TNE) director, Peter Heilbuth and recent acting director, now director of learning and environment, Lyn Rikard, visited the Inverell campus on Monday afternoon. They met an assembly of teachers, students, staff and local stakeholders who were curious about the sustainability of TAFE and the plans for the next year.
Mr Heilbuth had served as chief executive officer of South West TAFE in Warrnambool, Victoria for the past two years, and has about 20 years experience invested in the TAFE system. He began his career as a casual teacher in NSW and said he was delighted to accept the position as TNE director.
“I know that regional TAFE is a fabulous and incredibly important resource for communities such as ours for students, obviously, for industry, for the whole community,” Mr Heilbuth said.
“Because what TAFE does, and what a public provider does very well, is actually lift people up from where they are, to where they can be.”
He said with changes ahead, it was time to take a break and returned renewed to “take up the torch for TAFE again in the new year”.
Come January, all registered training organisations (RTOs) state-wide, public and private, will be required to deliver training under the NSW Smart and Skilled reforms.
Government support will be available to subsidise Certificates I-III and some traineeships and apprenticeships in designated subjects only. If it is not on the Skills List, students will be required to pay full costs for courses, and all fees will rise as of January 2015.
Students with existing certificates may not be eligible for government support.
Inverell TAFE is offering courses in Business and Creative Industries, Community, Health and Service Industries, Foundation Education and Employment Pathways and Trades and Primary Industries.
Some certificates will be delivered on campus. Others will be driven by a blended delivery of TNE Connects learning pathways.
Students can learn about course offerings and their calculated fee via smartandskilled.nsw.gov.au.