TAFE NSW

Hansard ID: HANSARD-1323879322-112720

Hansard session: Fifty-Seventh Parliament, First Session (57-1)

TAFE NSW

Mr MARK COURE (Oatley) (18:20):

:17 I proudly inform the House of the Government's achievements when it comes to the TAFE system in New South Wales. This Government has a strong appreciation of how valuable investment in skills is, both for the individual and for all of New South Wales. When we invest in TAFE we are investing not just in the student's future, but also in the State's future. Our plan over the years to expand and boost funding to TAFE across New South Wales is bold and ambitious. It will include 700,000 free TAFE courses over four years and an additional $227 million in new funding for TAFE over four years. We look forward to seeing the results of this investment in the development of our skilled and trade industries across New South Wales.

We are fortunate as a government that our plan is being overseen by the Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education, Geoff Lee, who has a thorough understanding of and passion for the TAFE system. The Minister's hands-on experience and his enthusiasm for skills development is tangible. Locally, I was joined recently by Minister Lee to tour the new $4.2 million health training facility at St George TAFE, Kogarah. This facility is part of our Government's ongoing investment in capital works projects across the TAFE network, totalling $179.5 million across 25 projects. Health and wellbeing are among the fastest-growing courses across TAFE NSW and this is reflected locally, where enrolments have been surging in recent years. The new facilities have been built to reflect current industry practice and will deliver a much-needed increase in local training capacity to match growing demand in the St George area.

Our Government's significant redevelopment of St George Hospital means there is strong demand for a skilled health workforce. I am proud to be part of a government that is committed to expanding training opportunities in the St George area. This multimillion-dollar investment will equip students with the real world skills they need to excel in the health sector. The new facility has a particular health focus on nursing and aged care, reflecting a higher demand for those workers. This is just another example of the Government recognising employment trends and responding accordingly. As a government with a strong focus on business and the economy, we also understand that equipping students with job-ready skills means equipping businesses with job‑ready employees. That is why we are not only investing in capital works projects, but also have developed a $30 million TAFE NSW Skills for Business initiative.

As a government, it is fantastic that when we invest in skills we are also investing in small business and in local economies. Furthermore, the Government acknowledges that the cost of TAFE and tertiary education can be a burden on many individuals and families. In a win for vocational education students, from January 2020 the Government is investing $54.3 million to make government-subsidised traineeships fee free. Traineeships are similar to apprenticeships but generally take around one to two years to complete and are in a variety of different fields including agriculture, allied health, early childhood education and retail. This is a game changer for small and medium businesses in the St George area. It will allow trainees to focus on practical training. This investment, coupled with the $285 million initiative that has made apprenticeships fee free, demonstrates that the Government is serious about getting people into sustainable work and addressing the skills shortage.

As highlighted by the Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning, this initiative is an important step in ensuring high-quality early childhood education and care. It is certainly encouraging that the most popular traineeships are in early childhood education, with over 10,000 students taking one up since 2015. My family is a product of TAFE. My grandfather was a cabinet-maker; my dad is, in fact, still a cabinet-maker; and my brother has a factory with our cousin in the electorate of the member for Heffron. They are cabinet-makers as well.

Ms Gabrielle Upton:

What happened to you?

Mr MARK COURE:

That is a very good question. Investment into TAFE is beneficial for all of us. The Government is investing heavily into a modern TAFE system that is developing skilled students and equipped businesses, as well as driving local economies and communities. I thank the Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education for all his work on TAFE throughout New South Wales. My local community says thank you.