By ALENA HIGGINS
THE survival of Warwick TAFE and other regional campuses is now “a numbers game”, according to director of Southern Queensland TAFE Trevor Schwenke.
Speaking to concerned residents and workers on the future of our TAFE at a breakfast meeting at Warwick on Monday, Mr Schwenke dispelled speculation that Warwick’s campus would close, but did not shy away from acknowledging the battle ahead.
Queensland TAFE faces unprecedented competition and significant funding changes across the sector in the wake of its establishment as an independent statutory body last July.
Mr Schwenke said the brand would rely on building business partnerships with the community as well as local training providers to find ways around the funding stonewall and to help boost enrolments, which have dwindled in recent times.
“TAFE isn’t closing down in Warwick,” he said.
“I need your support, though to keep this place going.
“It’s going to be difficult – it has to be. The way we get paid in the future is on outcomes.”
At present, TAFE Queensland holds about 60 per cent of the apprenticeship market and about 20 per cent of the trainee market, Mr Schwenke estimated. But he conceded those numbers would probably fall now that a fair chunk of the funding they relied on to subsidise courses had dried up.
“We’re in real competition with other training providers,” Mr Schwenke stressed.
“The government money that was given to TAFE is now open to other providers.
“What used to go to us now goes into a bucket.”
Speculation was rife last month that the campus would shut after trade apprenticeship employers across the Southern Downs were sent letters notifying them that on-campus delivery at Warwick TAFE would be replaced by on-site delivery.
The letter also outlined the need for apprentices attending theory training to visit the Toowoomba or Bundamba campuses.
Mr Schwenke said the move was part of a broader plan to diversify and offer “blended modes of delivery”, such as on-line courses and on-the-job training, to keep up with outside competition and prevent unnecessary competition between campuses.
Mr Schwenke was questioned on a number of issues, including the future of the unique rural resources offered at Warwick and the possibility of local management.
He said the “rural side” would depend on funding and ruled out local budgets or “teams within teams”.
When quizzed about community service obligations to provide disadvantaged or disengaged youth with basic numeracy and literacy skills, audience members were told, regrettably as “a business”, community service obligations no longer exist.
Those wanting to learn more about the new-look TAFE can attend a forum at Warwick Town Hall on 8 August.
