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Newsletter: 23 April 2007
TREASURY REPORT ENCOURAGES HECS LOANS FOR VET STUDENTSA new review into the economics of introducing a HECS loans scheme to TAFE has been launched by Professor Bruce Chapman, of the ANU, assisted by secondee economists from the Federal Treasury. The ANU Report says that excluding TAFE students from HECS system has placed TAFE on an uneven footing compared other tertiary institutions. It says that a system where loan repayments were made contingent on income would be more equitable in allowing students to meet the cost of fees and would help address the nation’s skills shortage. TAFE Directors Australia advocated extending student loans from the higher to vocational education sector in its White Paper to COAG in March. However, Martin Riordan, executive director, cautioned that the ANU Report was completed with a series of assumptions that may need further review, including that most VET students were full time. To read the full ANU report click here.ATQF 2007 - REMINDER FROM DESTThe introduction of ATQF 2007 takes effect on July 1, 2007. DEST has released the following update, reminding RTOs of obligations effective from that date. See link to the Reminder here.UPDATE: NEW OFFSHORE ASSESSMENT PROGRAMThe Offshore Assessment Centre tender process continues under the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. The Centres were expected to operate effective 01 July 2007, with pre-migration skills assessment services located in India, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and the Philippines. DEWR tenders had sought that trade assessments be conducted for general electrician, refrigeration/air-conditioning mechanic, motor mechanic, carpenter/joiner, electrician powerline tradesperson and cable jointer. DEWR this week has announced that tenders are currently being assessed and the successful organisation/s will be announced in May, in preparation for the July implementation. The deputy chair of TDA, Bruce Mackenzie (CEO of Holmesglen Institute of TAFE, Victoria), has also written to DEWR signalling concern by TDA at the conditions required of RTOs, and a reply is expected from DEWR. For more information refer to the Trades Recognition Australia website: http://www.workplace.gov.au/workplace/Category/SchemesInitiatives/TRA RESPONSE TO AEI VET STRATEGY – COMMENTS WELCOMETAFE Institutes are urged to make comments to TDA as we prepare a formal response to the VET Strategy paper, recently released by Australian Education International. Our submission is kindly being finalised by Sally Hodgetts from the University of Victoria, with responses requested by 30 April. TDA recommends a focus on the final segment of the VET Strategy, which deals with Action Plans for AEI. To view the draft paper click here. Please send submissions to Martin.Riordan@tda.edu.au or contact Sally Hodgetts directly via: c/- Glenys Perkins -- Executive Secretary -- Office of the Director DIARY REMINDERSSino-Australian VET Forum DATES: 22-24 June 2007 TAFE DIRECTORS AUSTRALIA DATES: 24 & 25 September 2007 |
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