Newsletter: 5 November 2007
ELECTION 2007 ---- UPDATES
TDA QUESTIONS DUPLICATION EFFECT OF 100 TECH COLLEGE PLEDGE
Last week the Prime Minister pledged 100 new technical colleges, in addition to the 28 Australian Technical Colleges promised in the Coalition's 2004 Federal election campaign. A total of 21 have been opened so far at a cost of $550 million. TAFE Directors Australia released a statement posing questions about the duplication of the existing TAFE network and the diversion of resources from Australia's established TAFE Institutes.
- To view TDA's media comment click
here.
- To view a transcript of CEO Martin Riordan's interview with Virginia Trioli, on ABC 702 Sydney radio
click here.
- To view Martin Riordan's opinion column in The Australian Financial Review
click here.
TRADE TEACHER AWARDS ACROSS EIGHT SECTORS
The Institute for Trade Skills Excellence has announced the finalists of the Trade Teacher of the Year Awards.
The awards are in their inaugural year and recognise excellence in training and teaching across eight industry groups including: Automotive; Building & Construction; Electrical; Hospitality and Personal Services; Manufacturing; Metals and Engineering; Mineral Resources and Rural and Farming.
Finalists will go to the National Training Awards later this week in Hobart (see Diary Dates below)..
SKILLSTECH AUSTRALIA TO REPRESENT TDA AT CPISC CONFERENCE
Steve Ghost, CEO of SkillsTech Australia, will represent TAFE Directors Australia as the Keynote Speaker for the Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Councils (CPSISC) Annual Skills Conference, in Melbourne 20-21 November 2007.
TDA is supporting the CPSISC Conference, and encourages Members to notify senior staff of the event.
More information is available here.
[Return to Top]
NSW TAFE STUDENTS TO RECEIVE COURSE FEE REFUNDS
NSW Minister for Education and Training, the Hon. John Della Bosca MLC has announced course fee refunds worth $2 million per year to TAFE NSW students studying their Higher School Certificate at TAFE.
The rebate will start next year and will also apply to students studying the Tertiary Preparation Certificate.
[Return to Top]
SEPTEMBER INTERNATIONAL STUDENT NUMBERS RELEASED
Australian Education International (AEI) has released the September International Student Data. The September results are consistent with the strong growth in VET shown throughout the year.
Year-to-date commencements are up 49% from the 2006 figures while enrolments have grown 44%. Student numbers from India contributed strongly to the result, rising 171% in the last year.
To view a summary of the results click here.
[Return to Top]
NEW PATHWAYS PROGRAM FOR ATHLETHES
Group Training Australia (GTA) has announced the 'Life After Sport' program, a joint GTA and AFL SportsReady initiative aimed at helping elite athletes prepare for life after sport.
The program was launched by the Hon. Andrew Robb AM MP, Minister for Vocational and Further Education, and the Hon. Senator George Brandis at the World Swimming Cup in Sydney. The proposed scheme will widen choice for professional sportspeople to complete their apprenticeship in between their sporting commitments. See GTA's media release
here. See the joint Ministerial release
here.
[Return to Top]
DIARY DATES
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TRAINING
Australian Training Awards
[Return to Top]
| 
