Dramatic overhaul of TasTaFE needed To back up businesses

Michael Bailey says many Tasmanians need better skills to break into the workforce

THERE is a statistic going around business circles in Tasmania that tells a very disturbing story.

There are 6500 job vacancies in the state, the highest number recorded in Tasmania. Yet, recent employment figures show there are 15,000 Tasmanians out of work, looking for a job.

How is it we can have a record number of job vacancies and 15,000 looking for work? It’s a question many business owners and managers ask themselves, especially if they are trying to recruit.

Ask any business and they will tell you the biggest issue in recruiting employees is skills. There are many Tasmanians who want to work, want a job, but simply don’t have the skills needed to do the job.

Our skills and training system is letting down all Tasmanians, not just those who run a business or who are looking for a job.

Imagine if we could fill the 6500 job vacancies. An extra 6500 people fulfilling their potential, supporting families, contributing to community.

Our state would be much better for it.

We need to fix our skills and training system.

The Premier’s Economic and Social Recovery Advisory Council outlines steps the government should take to improve TasTAFE in particular, given it’s the centrepiece of our skills and training system. From an industry perspective, what we need is a transformed TasTAFE that looks and acts more like the businesses and industries that will be employing the students TasTAFE is teaching.

We want a TasTAFE that better engages with industry on a sector-by-sector basis to understand specific training needs.

We want a TasTAFE that responds to the ebbs and flows of the economy, scaling up training in booming sectors and reducing it in areas of low demand.

We want a TasTAFE with flexibility to deliver training 24/7 when and where it’s needed, including online. We want a TasTAFE where teachers have industry experience to ensure teaching methods and content is fit for purpose. We know that won’t be easy, and the government will have to make big changes to deliver on its commitment.

TasTAFE needs to employ its workforce under the full range of employment

arrangements provided under the Fair Work Act, the ability to pay market rates for teachers to attract the best people and flexibility to deploy teachers when and where the students require them to ensure accessibility.

Teachers need to be able to move seamlessly between TasTAFE and industry workplaces as required, so that students can benefit from firsthand knowledge.

TasTAFE needs to be more accountable for delivering high quality training to support jobs and that includes with teachers who are accountable under the Fair Work Act.

The old days of TAFE being there for students to study a trade after graduating high school, with the training provided in classrooms on a 9am to 5pm basis, are over. Modern businesses and their employees are focused on constantly training and upskilling. TasTAFE training needs to be linked with businesses in Tasmania, with enduring relationships. That means providing training to existing employees whenever and wherever it’s needed.

That’s why Tasmanian industry and the business community is unified in it’s support of the full set of PESRAC recommendations relating to TasTAFE, including the transition of all staff to employment under the Fair Work Act to help deliver the flexibility needed.

We know some people support some of the necessary changes, but not other elements of the reform.

Choosing some elements of transformation while avoiding tougher decisions relating to employment will not deliver the outcomes requires. It will simply entrench the problems.

Michael Bailey is chief executive of the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.