The Victorian Government has released the Independent TAFE Review Panel’s final report on vocational education and training, as well as the Government’s response.

Newly minted Victorian Premier, Denis Napthine, said that the State Government remained dedicated to the sector, and would be providing $200 million across four years to the State’s TAFE sector to promote innovation and structural reform.

“This funding is designed to assist TAFE institutes in securing their presence within the broader vocational education and training industry,” Dr Napthine said.

Under its response to the Panel’s 19 key recommendations, the State Government has promised it will:

  • Provide $200 million in funding for proposals to support innovation, collaboration, structural reform and business transformation to ensure the ongoing financial sustainability of TAFE institutes;
  • Give TAFE institutes greater control of their assets by transferring property titles, allowing TAFE institutes to re-invest the proceeds from sales, and by working towards more flexible financial arrangements;
  • Reduce the regulatory burden on TAFE institutes through streamlined reporting requirements and by more clearly defining roles and responsibilities of TAFE institutes and the Department;
  • Allow TAFE institutes to have more control over workplace relations;
  • Modernise the institutes’ constitutions and supply commercial objectives for TAFE institutes to provide a clearer understanding of Government’s expectations;
  • Remove the restriction on TAFE institutes being registered as Group Training Organisations; and
  • Reclassify the TAFE operations of dual-sector universities to bring them into line with other universities and reduce their reporting requirements.