There is also an urgent need to re-skill workers in key growth sectors, and to acknowledge that not everyone needs or wants a tertiary eduction, says Mayor Khal Asfour, who received unanimous support to convey that message to TAFE NSW’s managing director.
Recognising that thousands of people, including hairdressers, mechanics, plumbers and electricians had acquired their skills through TAFE, he said there were “many successful people who have never gone to university”.
Cr Asfour said many TAFE campuses had either shut down, were not taking further enrolments or not offering the courses they used to.
“I think we need to refocus on TAFE,” he said.
Noting there was also “a missing piece of the puzzle” given that technological changes required skilled workers, he said TAFE needed to “move with the times” and focus on growth areas such as advanced manufacturing and innovation.
Cr Linda Downey also warned that TAFE had been “cut to the bone” by the State Government over the past decade.
She said Chullora TAFE used to be a centre of trade excellence but was now virtually closed, while Padstow had lost whole facilities including aviation, hospitality, mechanics, business services and IT.
“The only one left at the moment, and just hanging on by the skin of its teeth, is horticulture,” she said.
“High youth unemployment in this area can be improved by the provision of a well resourced TAFE organisation.
“The cutbacks over the last 10 years have been so significant that TAFE is just the shadow of its former self.”
