Access to TAFE facilities by NSW community colleges entered the news this week.
The NSW Minister for Skills and Higher Education, Dr Geoff Lee stated support for NSW adult and community education providers (community colleges), as reported in the Sydney Morning Herald on 12 March when he said: "If a not-for-profit community college wants to come and teach on a campus and we have vacancy on that campus, I will consider that proposal and recommendations from TAFE where it's appropriate.”
CCA’s CEO, Dr Don Perlgut, comments:
“For many years, CCA and many of its NSW members have felt frustration about how NSW TAFE institutes have frequently blocked members from accessing TAFE campuses and facilities, where large amounts of resources and facilities remain unused. The Minister’s statement of support for community colleges is greatly appreciated.
“CCA supports TAFE’s role as the state’s anchor VET institution. NSW community colleges rarely compete with TAFE, but instead complement and support TAFE’s role, especially in reaching the most vulnerable and disadvantaged: regional and rural residents, people with disabilities, Indigenous Australians, older workers and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds,” Dr Perlgut said.
