News

International students wanting to take up work opportunities often need formal training of some form which falls outside of the primary course they are enrolled in and it risks contravening existing obligations under the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act). The Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE) is proposing amendments so students can take up these supplementary courses by changing the current regulation. It sounds sensible, however, could there be flow-on implications for providers and students? TDA supports the intent of the proposed amendments but also highlights some potential unintended risks.

The Australian Government has introduced legislation that would require all arrangements between state and territory governments and their entities, and foreign governments and their entities to be approved by the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Bill is yet to be considered by the Senate. TDA has provided a submission to the Senate Committee Inquiry highlighting the impacts that this legislation may have on TAFEs.

TDA is pleased to announce the establishment of the National Enrolled Nursing Advisory Council (NENAC). The council brings together experts in education and training for enrolled nursing from across Australian TAFEs to better represent and advocate for enrolled nursing education.

This week we shine the light on all things good about vocational education and training as part of National Skills Week being run by the newly established National Careers Institute (NCI).

As if the NCI did not have an important job already, the roadblocks in Australians’ passage into work and journey into a fulfilling career caused by COVID-19, heightens their task.

The Centre for Future Work’s report ‘An Investment in Productivity and Inclusion’ presents up-to-date analysis on the extensive economic benefits of the TAFE system to Australia’s economy.
The report found that Australia’s historic investments in quality TAFE education supports a combined and ongoing flow of total economic benefits worth $92.5 billion to the Australian economy in 2019 — 16 times greater than the annual ‘maintenance’ costs Australia currently reinvests in the TAFE system.

TDA CEO Craig Robertson reflects on the TAFE learning community for National TAFE Day.

TDA has received a request for a right of reply to the weekly column from CEO Craig Robertson. This past week we received comments on Craig’s column of 3 August which called for recognition of institutional capability that underpins quality. See the response

The headland speech by England’s conservative Minister for Education, The Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE MP, is inspiring as he sets out how further education will level up the nation. ‘Education is a keystone of our society and it’s one we can be very proud of’ he says and then lays out a plan for vocational education through Further Education Colleges, the TAFE equivalent in England.