Feedback is being sought from key stakeholders on proposed changes to South Australia’s TAFE SA Act 2012, aimed at making TAFE SA ready to meet future skills needs, as recommended by the TAFE SA Roadmap for the Future.
A key amendment to be consulted on is making TAFE SA a statutory authority, which will strengthen the role of the public provider of quality vocational education and training (VET) in South Australia – ensuring its legislation sets up TAFE SA to better deliver on the economic and social needs of the state.
A statutory authority’s purpose is to pursue objectives and provide services in the public interest. It would mean TAFE SA’s legislative structure is more focused on delivering on the public interest and on government priorities such as investing in emerging industries, said SA Minister for Education, Training and Skills, Blair Boyer.
“Becoming a statutory authority will ensure TAFE SA is best placed to function in the interests of the public, rather than focusing on profit,” said Mr Boyer
“It will position TAFE SA for success into the future, ensuring they continue to deliver quality education and training across the state, key to addressing the state’s skills needs.
“TAFE SA exists to do things we would never expect of non-government training providers – like have a strong offering in regional SA, a broad range of courses, and providing substantial wellbeing supports for students. That’s why it’s rightly funded differently and it’s why we’re changing the legislation to make sure TAFE SA has a laser focus on delivering the services, courses and outcomes our government expects of them as the public provider.”
The new legislation is proposed to include strong financial and performance oversight, including by retaining the TAFE SA Board, a new Business Plan with TAFE SA’s annual budget approved by both the board and the minister, and having similar financial and performance safeguards as currently exist in the Public Corporations Act 1993 (SA).
Stakeholders to be involved in the Act consultation include South Australian Government bodies, the TAFE SA Board, commissioners, unions, industry groups, non-government training provider representatives and First Nations organisations and, in addition to transitioning TAFE SA to a statutory authority, will consider:
- A new, modern set of legislated purposes for TAFE SA that articulate its important role in training South Australians, supporting communities, ensuring regional South Australians have access to training, and breaking down barriers to training;
- Planning and performance with similar transparency and accountability safeguards as those currently applied under the Public Corporations Act 1993 (SA);
- Introducing a Ministerial Statement of Priorities to ensure TAFE SA appropriately addresses State Government directions and priorities;
- Moving to the Chief Executive being appointed by the Minister, in consultation with the TAFE SA Board;
- Developing a TAFE SA business plan and annual report, replacing the current Ministerial Charter and Performance Statement.
A final version of the Bill will be prepared and introduced to the South Australian Parliament once consultation has concluded.
The TAFE SA Roadmap for the Future was released after extensive consultation with industry, the community and the VET sector.
