College moves on despite big miss
Longerenong College leaders are taking a ‘business as usual’ approach to news the agricultural institution has missed out on being part of a State Government free TAFE course program.
Despite offering three of 30 courses the government has listed as part of its $172-million Free TAFE for Priority Courses scheme, the college fails to qualify because it is not a TAFE provider.
Certificates II, III and IV in Agri- culture on the government list are a core part of the Longerenong course structure.
Longerenong campus head John Goldsmith acknowledged the news was disappointing but added the college would simply accept the news ‘as information’ and move on.
“We have a quality product and for us it’s a case of business as usual,” he said.
“There is no one like us in the agricultural study field and we strongly believe we have a niche and quality product.
“We stand by our uniqueness and are confident the punters will continue to want to come to Longerenong like they are.”
Member for Lowan Emma Kealy was less forgiving and argued the changes, while designed to be broadly beneficial, had put Longerenong College at a significant disadvantage.
“They have been left high and dry. They’ve not only missed out but the changes could be potentially harmful,” she said.
“It’s terribly contradictory. The TAFE plan lists agricultural courses as a priority. Yet the plans don’t allow one of the most iconic state agricultural education institutions in country Victoria to be part of the free course offer.
“Everyone at Longy has done an amazing job to build the college – so good in fact that it is now attracting international students.
“The college now faces the prospect of competing against TAFE institutions offering free courses.
“We’re also talking about an institution operating on a State Government-owned site.
“It is more than irony – it’s bad planning and flawed because it doesn’t work on a level playing field.”
Victorian Farmers Federation president David Jochinke was also concerned and said he had raised the issue with the premier’s office.
“We had a fearless and frank conversation on issues involving the budget and they assured me they understood the issue and were looking at ways around it. What that means I’m not 100 percent sure, but reading between the lines I believe they recognise they’ve created a disparity,” he said.