Decisions of TAFE TA Annual General Meeting June 2007

Major Decisions of TAFE TA Annual General Meeting - 1 June 2007

Note: These are the decisions of TAFE TA AGM. The TAFE Campaign Resolution has been endorsed, slightly amended, by Federation Council. The other resolutions in General Business have not yet been endorsed by NSW Teachers Federation.

1. That the minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on Friday 2 June 2006 be adopted as an accurate record.

2. Returning Officer's Report

Phil Ward was nominated Acting Returning Officer for this AGM and declared the following election results:

Returning Officer - John Carle
Assistant Returning Officer - Brett Hunter

Floor Members (5) - 6 nominations received - Kieran Smyth, Caroline Cox, Barry Toole, Paul Richards, Craig Schlunke elected

Scrutineers (4) - Two nominations received - Paul Richards, Andrew Nichols (2 vacancies).

Educational Futures Forum:
TAFE Officer (1) - Phil Bradley elected
3 positions - Annette Bonnici, Michael Valantine and Len Koles elected

Pre-selection of AEU delegates:
• National TAFE Council Executive Member (1) - Peter de Graaff elected
• TAFE Federal Conference delegates (3) - Peter de Graaff, Linda Simon, Phil Bradley elected
• National TAFE Council delegates (19) - to be re-opened

3. Treasurer's Report

a) That the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2006 be received.

b) That the Honoraria received by TAFE TA Executive be approved and be increased in accordance with the CPI.

4. Life Membership

That Honorary Life Membership of TAFE TA be conferred on Phil Cross, Bob Harding and Max Taylor.

5. TAFE Campaign

This TAFE TA AGM expresses serious concerns with the lack of response by both the Federal Government and the Labor Opposition to the funding requirements for TAFE. Both ignored TAFE in their Budget week speeches. TAFE TA is particularly critical of the Federal Government's continued emphasis on funding of individuals through vouchers and wage top-ups which may only result in increased employer incentives, and the move to make an additional $83.6 million available for three more Australian Technical Colleges. These colleges are about the privatisation of education, and certainly will do nothing to address current skills shortages or increase numbers of skilled tradespeople in the short term.

TAFE TA rejects the move by the Federal Government to introduce FEE-HELP, an income contingent loans scheme, for students in Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses where there is agreed credit for a university degree. This move further signals the intention of the Federal Government to shift the cost of education to individuals, and to increase fees and charges overall. TAFE TA will fight such a move with all possible resources, as we have in relation to unfair TAFE fees and charges in the past. We call on all other states and territories to oppose these changes with the same energy and commitment.

TAFE TA is bemused at the Federal Minister's continued comparison of Australian Technical Colleges, with their supposed 1800 enrolments, to 'old-style dedicated technical schools'. Andrew Robb's speeches indicate an ideological commitment by the Federal Government to streaming students in high schools. TAFE TA rejects these attacks on comprehensive secondary education and on TAFE. The Federation will be asked to undertake research around Australian Technical Colleges in NSW, the education and training that they are providing, and this comparison being made by Andrew Robb to the 'old-style technical schools'.

TAFE TA is also concerned at the recent announcement by the Federal Minister to a new funding model for vocational education and training, with funding based on student places rather than teaching hours. Such a model has the potential to undermine quality provision of courses in TAFE and necessary student support services. TAFE TA calls on the NSW Government to work with the other states and territories to reject this proposal, and to seek proper funding for TAFE instead.

At the same time, TAFE TA expresses its deep concern at the lack of any announcement from Stephen Smith, Kevin Rudd or Federal Labor to repudiate these moves by the Federal Government and to make any funding commitment to TAFE. Federation however congratulates the Greens for their continued support of significant funding increases for TAFE.

TAFE TA will continue to campaign with the support of the AEU and other states and territories to maximise pressure on the Federal Government and the Labor Opposition to provide funding for TAFE and to recognise its pre-eminent role in vocational education and training, with a focus on the AEU claim for TAFE.

6. General Business

a) WorldSkills Australia National Competition 2008

TAFE TA AGM supports the conduct of the WorldSkills Australia National Competition in Sydney in 2008 and urges the NSW Government to help fund the event as it showscases the work and commitment of TAFE teachers and students around Australia. TAFE TA will seek further Federation support and action.

b) Branch 4 (Ultimo) - Sydney Institute

That this meeting of TAFE TA expresses outrage and disappointment at the recent Federal Budget regarding TAFE. The Howard government has failed TAFE and its 1.3 million students. Furthermore, we are equally concerned that the Opposition's technical schools announcement ignores the existing human resources, capital and infrastructure of TAFE.

TAFE TA calls on both the major parties to fully invest in TAFE so that TAFE can continue to serve industry and the communities in which they operate by training and educating skilled workers of the future, and by the provision of second chance education for many struggling Australians.

In addition, TAFE TA condemns the lack of public criticism by the TAFE Directors Australia (TDA) on these issues and demands that the TDA publicly state its position.

TAFE TA will communicate this resolution to the Prime Minister John Howard, the Leader of the Opposition Kevin Rudd and the Executive Director of TDA Martin Riordan.

c) TAFE Teacher/Consultants Disabilities

i) That NSW Teachers Federation place an immediate ban on the creation and/or recruitment of 'generic' (generalist) TAFE NSW Teacher/Consultant Disabilities positions.

TAFE TA calls on the Teachers Federation to inform Marie Persson Deputy Director General TAFE, Chris Burvill Manager of TAFE Strategic Support and the Minister of this decision.

c)ii) TAFETA members deplore the failure of the NSW DET to provide adequate support funding for NSW DET students with disabilities enrolled in TVET courses as part of their school programme, and the subsequent detrimental effect this has on course options and reasonable adjustments available to these students.

This funding was capped from 2004 to 2007 before being increased by a meager 5% in 2007 despite applications to enrol increasing by more than 40% in some TAFE NSW Institutes since 2005.

That NSW Teachers Federation:

• Approve and fund the formation of a special interest group to develop strategies designed to resolve this issue.

• Consider directing all members (Schools and TAFE) to suspend participation in all 2008 TVET procedures for all TVET students until the NSW DET funds the reasonable adjustments recommended as per each student's record of negotiated additional support for TVET students with a disability.

d) That TAFE TA/NSW Teachers Federation:

i) Write to John Della Bosca Minister for Education and Training and ask him to explain why the NSW Department of Education and Training has refused to support the Federation's request that TAFE teachers living and teaching in isolated and remote communities be afforded the same incentives as those available to teachers employed in the school system.

ii) Seek to include incentives similar to those for teachers in schools for TAFE teachers in the TAFE Teachers Award, including housing rental subsidy in specific isolated and remote communities.

Authorised by Linda Simon, TAFE TA Secretary

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Last Modified: 07 Jun 2007