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From Reconciliation Week to NAIDOC Week – comment by CEO Jenny Dodd
Today is Reconciliation Day Australia. National Reconciliation Week is a time to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. This year the theme is ‘Be a Voice for Generations’. In various States and Territories TDA members will be part of National Reconciliation Week events.

How do we turn the dial to increase diversity? – comment by CEO Jenny Dodd
Are you a trades teacher/lecturer, corporate staff member supporting the trades areas in your TAFE, or a TAFE leader? Have you got it right in terms of creating safe and appropriate learning experiences for women? Are you conscious of what your team can do to support diverse and vulnerable apprentices to succeed in their chosen careers? Is your TAFE turning the dial to improve access for students who are diverse, First Nations students, and women to want to take on careers in traditional male industries?

Changes to foundation skills – what will this mean? – comment by CEO Jenny Dodd
Last Tuesday’s budget signalled significant reforms to foundation skills funding. These reforms were warmly welcomed by members of Minister O’Connor’s Foundation Skills Advisory Group. Many of the members of this group have been advocating for some time that these sorts of changes to foundation skills were needed.

Where is Australia’s long-term vocational excellence innovation policy? – comment by CEO Jenny Dodd
Last week TDA’s TAFETalks hosted a fascinating exploration of the European Commission Centres of Vocational Excellence. One TAFETalk participant even said it was one of the best TDA TAFETalks yet! What can Australia learn from the Europe Commission’s Centres of Vocational Education Excellence to inform Australia’s much needed VET innovation policy?

Research must inform solutions to completions – comment by CEO Jenny Dodd
It was terrific to be part of the AVETRA conference last week and to contribute to a panel titled: ‘Policy, place and partnership: the interoperable tertiary system’ chaired by AVETRA President, Kira Clarke. Although I was only part of the event for a day, this was a conference that dug deep into the relevant ‘challenges’ facing VET.

Reluctance to tighten international education loopholes – comment by CEO Jenny Dodd
There has been a bit of chatter over the last week or so around international students. This chatter started in the media on Friday 14 April.

Breaking down the ‘rules’ – comment by CEO Jenny Dodd
Australia has a first-class vocational education and training system. It is not broken, as some suggest, but it certainly needs a refresh. Can this be achieved in what has largely become a very rule driven vocational education system?

Alignment of thinking – comment by CEO Jenny Dodd
During last week the Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training held public inquiries into the perceptions and status of vocational education and training (VET). TDA made a submission and a presentation. The TDA submission can be downloaded from the TDA website.

Higher education integration will be possible only with more flexible courses – comment by CEO Jenny Dodd
TDA has submitted into the survey on DEWR’s qualification reform model. TDA is also finalising its submission for the Universities Accord.

One national system, so many players – comment by CEO Jenny Dodd
The current Universities Accord consultation and submission process highlights an important distinction between VET and higher education. That distinction lies in one word, simplicity.

‘Trust’ – comment by CEO Jenny Dodd
Curiously, during the last week in the various forums I was in or articles I read, one of the most frequently used words has been ‘trust’. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines trust as “assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something. :one in which confidence is placed” (accessed on Friday 10/3/23).

Learners need to be considered more in transition dates – comment by CEO Jenny Dodd
“Do you have access to an RTO that won’t change your course one month out?” This was the question asked by one of the participants from Alice Springs on the ABC’s The Drum a few Friday evenings ago. Ellen Fanning led a discussion on skills and learning which included representatives from communities in central Australia.

A true tertiary education sector will improve perceptions of VET – comment by CEO Jenny Dodd
The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training is currently undertaking an inquiry into the perceptions and status of vocational education and training (VET).

Rare moment in time for an integrated tertiary education sector – comment by CEO Jenny Dodd
2023 is a rare moment in time. During 2023, the next five-year National Skills Partnership will be negotiated between the Commonwealth and States/Territories. This agreement will start by establishing principles. The first of those principles will be ‘TAFE is at the heart of vocational education and training (VET)’ There are some other principles that are likely to be included, such as a principle related to foundation skills.

TAFEs must be able to self-accredit to avoid redundant qualifications – comment by CEO Jenny Dodd
For some time TDA has been calling for TAFEs to have the ability to self-accredit. Self-accreditation will mean that when TAFEs work collaboratively with employers, they can get a training product to market quickly, just like universities. This week that view received significant support from an unlikely source – ChatGPT! Well, Claire Field to be precise.

Welcome students! From fee-free to international – comment by CEO Jenny Dodd
At the start of the academic calendar year, it is fantastic to see our TAFEs come alive with students.

AI will impact TAFE educators; what do you need to know? – comment by CEO Jenny Dodd
There are some moments at work which make you draw breath and think – this is a game changer! Last week was one of those weeks for me. No, it was not the latest in the constancy of VET reform that caused me to have that reaction. It was the discussions in the media, and with colleagues far and wide, about the impact of artificial intelligence on the work we do in TAFE.

‘TAFE at the heart of your career’ – comment by CEO Jenny Dodd
2023 opens with great news for potential students around the country. Enrolments for Free-Fee TAFE are well underway. The Government has made 180,000 places available, the majority through TAFE, to provide opportunities for Australians across the country to “upskill quickly and hit the ground running in an in-demand industry”.