Key points to make in your letter

In your letter to MP's about investing in TAFE, you may like to consider the following key points.

• the Council of Australian Governments (CoAG) has noted the key role TAFE plays in delivering high quality technical training, encouraging participation of disadvantaged students and providing services particularly in regional and remote areas.
   
• Despite CoAG noting this vital role TAFE plays in the Australian economy, it has failed to advocate improved funding for TAFE.
   
• CoAG continues to prioritise policies which pit providers against each other in a contest for funding. These damaging policies promote greater competition between providers, rather than supporting investment in our quality TAFE system.
   
• Changes that have been proposed to CoAG will harm the TAFE system by:
  • forcing TAFE colleges to compete for funding against each other and private operators;
  • imposing competitive neutrality principles on the TAFE system, which will increase operating costs and reduce TAFE's capacity to deliver training;
  • introducing a HECS-style scheme for TAFE students that will increase student fees and charges.
     
• Proposed changes to TAFE funding threaten to deprive Australia’s future workforce of affordable access to quality vocational education and training.
   
• These proposals will make it easier to increase TAFE fees. This means students could be paying a course for many years after completing it.
   
• Competition on price has already damaged TAFE, lead to skills shortages in the traditional trades, and cherry picking of more lucrative courses by private (for profit) providers.
   
• TAFE is the backbone of our skilled workforce and it is under threat. We urge you to encourage our government leaders to reject these damaging proposals which will put at risk Australia’s future.
   
• TAFE is the answer to resolving the critical skills shortages facing our economy.
   
• Our governments must invest in TAFE, and guarantee funding to ensure that TAFE continues to provide affordable access to vocational education and training.