TAFE fee hike hurts Labor heartland

Politicians appeared embarrassed students need to take out loans to pay for their TAFE course. ROB LONG reports.

Illawarra TAFE teachers Rob Long and Russell Hannah, students Vanessa Hayes and Ashley Fitch plus South Coast Labor Council Secretary Arthur Rorris travelled to Parliament House on October 15 to discuss the problems of the new TAFE fees for the Illawarra region a Labor party heartland.

The students and teachers conveyed their concerns to a group of Labor politicians regarding the introduction of education fees and attacks on funding for NSW TAFE.

The group of politicians included Upper House members Ian West, Henry Tsang and Kayee Griffin, Newcastle MP Bryce Gaudry, Swansea MP Milton Orkopoulos, and staff from the office of the Education Minister.

The delegates told the politicians the introduction of education fees would seriously impact on access to vocational education and training in the Illawarra. The region already has many disadvantaged groups and individuals who will not be able to afford the fee increases.

Mr Long said: "Some of these students such as homeless youth, women in violent relationships and people in casual and low paid jobs who are not connected to the Centrelink network will suffer the most. They will be expected to pay these fees up front before they gain the skills they require to get better jobs."

Ms Hayes told the Parliamentarians that the total cost for her to study at TAFE in her first year of the Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management was $3000, about half her current income. Hidden costs include travel, textbooks, stationary, uniforms, equipment plus the TAFE fees.

"It's been a hard year for me, but my part time waitressing and the fact that I live at home has enabled me to get by financially. I just don't know how I am going to afford to do my final year next year," she said.

Mr Rorris illustrated to the group that Vanessa's plight was not unusual for students in the Illawarra and the new fees hike plus these hidden costs of education would discourage students from gaining valuable employment skills.

Ms Fitch said: "I need the qualification to get a better job and I can't quit halfway through the course -- but I think the only way I'll be able to afford the fees next year is by taking out a loan."

The Labor politicians were visibly embarrassed that young keen students such as Ashley and Vanessa needed to take out personal loans to finish their TAFE qualification. The students explained that under the new TAFE fee structure they would be better off quitting their jobs, leaving home and signing on for the unemployment benefits.

Mr Long said: "We believe that NSW should lead the nation in removing all TAFE education and administrative fees to ensure Australia has highly trained productive and responsive workforce."

"Illawarra students' ability to get better jobs, will be greatly effected by these attacks on TAFE."

This Labor government has introduced TAFE education fees for mainstream students for the first time in the state's history, reduced TAFE funding, plus threatened jobs through a department restructure.

We call on the State Government to end all fees on TAFE, plus supplement the TAFE budget to at least meet the future student growth, and address past funding cuts.

Rob Long is the Federation Representative at Wollongong TAFE.

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Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005