The report gives an overview of the national vocational education and training market and compares the cost burdens carried by TAFE NSW against TAFEs in other States and Territories. 

NSW Minister for Skills John Barilaro says vocational training is undergoing significant change and TAFE NSW must respond in a way that meets students demand for course delivery, eliminates duplication costs, reduces inefficiencies and provide the training for future jobs. 

"The TAFE of today was set up in 1993 when workplace and student expectations were very different," Mr Barilaro said. 

"Back then, TAFE NSW was very heavily focused on face-to-face, on-campus teaching; distance was an overriding factor affecting how and where students studied; and Institutes tailored their courses to the economy of their local community. 

"We are now facing a future where even the most traditional jobs – carpentry, joinery and plumbing – have undergone significant changes in technology, and we need a TAFE NSW which is set up for the jobs of the future – in science, technology and engineering. 

"TAFE NSW has become an expensive, high cost system where 40 to 60 cents in each dollar spent on TAFE is going towards administration and backroom costs, not on front line teaching. 

"The current system is failing students, failing industry, and failing to meet the demands of employers to create the workforce for the jobs of tomorrow." 

The full report can be accessed here.

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Media: John Morrison - 0439 281 482