Newsletter

In this final TDA Newsletter, I have been asked to reflect on 2020, and comment on how the experiences of this year may influence future years.

‘We know the recovery from COVID-19 will not be easy. But having a multiskilled, agile workforce is the type of resilience that Australia will need to get our economy back on track.  As with all major market disruptions, the training sector will have a vital role to play in reskilling Australians. I am optimistic about the future.

Reflecting on three years as TasTAFE’s Chief Executive, Jenny Dodd is enthusiastic about the extraordinary leadership shown across the TAFE network in a year which has been like no other.

Finishing touches to industry arrangements into vocational education and the Oscars of Australian vocational education topped off an eventful week.

Congratulations finalists National recognition is an honour but success is yours to keep You have shown the good from VET though the path has been steep Go, now be disciples

This past week has been one of contrasting victories. The winning jockey in the Melbourne Cup, Jye McNeil, in his first ride in the Cup, guided Twilight Payment at the front of the pack for the bulk of the race, a brave move for even the most experienced. A fairy tale story, even.

There’s something about races in November, at least at the quadrennial climax this year! A political race in Queensland, the horse race that stops the nation tomorrow and the race the whole world is watching – for the White House. The latter unearths deep anxiety around the globe, to see whether geo-political tensions can be wound back and, what appears to be a haphazard response to COVID-19, can be stabilised and with it the US economy.

In the spirit of Year 12 exams underway across the country, a small essay exercise follows. Read below and answer the questions that follow. In a faraway land not too long ago lived a happy and prosperous people. They had come from around the world over many years to settle and enjoy the land’s rich reward.

The streets of Richmond in the inner suburbs of Melbourne will be eerily quiet this week considering the significance of the event in Brisbane on Saturday evening.

Last week’s budget has thrown everything at economic recovery from the impact of the global pandemic. A push for jobs and faith in employers to open them up. In these unprecedented times every encouragement is being given to keep or take on workers.

They say if you saw what goes into a meat pie you’d never eat one again. Now that the National Skills Commissioner has been confirmed in his role he will have to prise open that soft soggy pastry to see what fills the VET qualification pie.

Proposed changes to credit arrangements in higher education are likely to go through with not so much as a whimper but they speak volumes of the state of tertiary education in Australia, let alone the attitude toward lifelong learning.

Dear Prime Minister, Our parents told us that earlier this year you said vocational education and training is just as good as university. We took you at your word. It hasn’t worked, so we’ll try university thanks, or make our own way in work.

There has been some commentary arising from TDA’s submission to the Productivity Commission about the centrality of technology transfer and TAFEs role in it. Surely the advancement of students is the mission, was the question? Walla – what comes first, skills or industry?

‘Forget whatever you learned in your teaching degree, it doesn’t work in the face of 25 marauding kids.’ For all the teachers out there I’m sure you heard that during your practicum. I did. It was an important part of immersion into a workplace. I resolved to apply my theories of teaching and class management once I had my own classroom.

I have a confession of failed fathering. My wife helped my son build his Lego models! I’m proud of my progress, though, when it comes to spreading the good word. I risk giving away my age as I tell this story but I hope it triggers memories for, … mmm,… well, those of you whom we’d regard as the more mature.

Once upon a time, in my younger days, I ran church summer camps for school children, teens and young adults. For those from the West it was the Baptist Campsite in Serpentine, which some of you might have visited for school camp.