Standing Committee on Employment, Education
and Workplace Relations
This document has been scanned from the original printed submission.
It may contain some errors
Submission 40
Response to the Inquiry into the Appropriate Roles of Institutes of
Technical and Further Education
Wodonga Institute of TAFE is pleased to provide this response to the
Inquiry into the Appropriate Roles of Institutes of Technical and Further
Education. It is as a regional provider of Vocational Education and Training
(VET) services that we submit the following observations for consideration
by the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education
and Training.
Introduction
Wodonga Institute of TAFE, located in regional Victoria, provides Vocational
Education and Training services to its local and immediate communities,
including training delivery and a range of indirect services supporting
delivery.
As a regional provider, our organisation's role incorporates both commercial
and civic dimensions. These include:
- Providing access to high quality vocational training opportunities
for all members of the regional community, including industry enterprises,
government agencies and individuals
- Linking with and being responsive to the training and education needs
of the local community
- Providing leadership in education provision and regional economic
development by establishing useful and mutually beneficial partnerships
Background
Our organisation is a regional TAFE situated in North-East Victoria,
close to the border of New South Wales. Established in 1987, we have recently
celebrated ten years of continuous VET service provision. During this
time, the Institute has developed a national and international reputation
as a provider and developer of quality training and training resources.
However, the core of our business activities centre on the local region.
Areas of training services delivered include:
- workplace delivery and assessment
- regional campuses for delivery in isolated communities
- on-campus training and education programs
- off-campus and flexible delivery including online and conventional
modes
- dual recognition programs with secondary colleges
Aside from training delivery, we provide a range of services that support
training. These include:
- teaching and learning resource development, including media and multimedia
resources
- VET research and development
- development of pathways between secondary, community, technical and
tertiary learning institutions
- employment and traineeship services for employers and employees
Training delivery and community responsibilities
Without listing the specific subject areas delivered by the Institute,
it is worth noting that our organisation is expected by its regional community
to provide VET opportunities across the range of disciplines. We regard
this model of broad-based delivery to be quite distinct from the operating
models of metropolitan providers. Whilst it might prove economically rational
for institutes to limit the range of disciplines offered, the reality
of some regional contexts, including Albury Wodonga, dictates that we
enter or remain in markets that are less than profitable (according to
traditional measures).
Despite challenging the systems and resources of a relatively small Institute,
we consider that a commitment to meeting these public and civic responsibilities
is critical to the success of regional institutes such as ours.
Importance of local decision making
Albury-Wodonga has a history of regional governance, dating back to its
designation as a National Growth Centre in 1973, as a joint venture of
the Commonwealth, New South Wales and Victorian Governments. This has
engendered a strong regional 'sense of place' which has manifested itself
in the local decision-making structures that exist in various government
and community organisations, and which is also reflected in the continuous
growth and prosperity of the region.
Wodonga TAFE recognises the importance of local control and has sought
to invest heavily in community consultation. We are the only provider
of further or tertiary education in the area which possesses local decision-making
mechanisms and an organisational power structure located within the region.
It is our belief that this direct relationship with the community has
positioned us strongly to meet the needs of industry, government and individuals.
To a large extent, the devolved nature of the Victorian State Training
System supports this local decision making.
Albury Wodonga – an educational precinct
In the Albury Wodonga district, there exists a landscape of education
and training markets that involve public and private buyers and sellers.
With two university campuses (La Trobe and Charles Sturt), two TAFE institutes
(Wodonga plus a campus of the Riverina Institute of TAFE, residing in
New South Wales), and a host of community and private providers, Albury
Wodonga has established itself as an important educational precinct.
Indeed, post-secondary education is considered to be a vital industry
in this region, and the Wodonga Institute of TAFE is currently seeking
endorsement from the Albury and Wodonga local government authorities for
a Declaration of Post-Secondary Education as a Vital Industry for the
Region Centred on Albury Wodonga.
The value of this robust market and the integrated educational platform
which comprises schools, TAFEs and universities is clearly demonstrated
by the region's ability to retain its young people, and maintain strong
representation in all age groups (in particular those people aged 15-34
years) – a rare achievement within regional Australia.
The multi-tiered educational platform has stimulated a healthy market
competition. It has also demonstrated the value of harmonious strategic
alliances and partnerships between educational providers, which serve
to complement the depth and relevance of education and training services,
without diminishing local decision making and local control. We believe
our community has and will continue to benefit from the distinct, yet
complementary positioning of educational players in this region.
Economic/educational alignment
Central to the business of Wodonga Institute of TAFE is the strong alignment
between economic and educational outcomes. Our strategic planning model
seeks to link our operation with regional economic development goals and
directions. This ensures that we remain focused on both a sustainable
educational sector and the continued economic health of the region.
And, while sustainable growth is important to our viability, the quality
and relevance of training services we provide is our overriding measure
of success.
Further information
A hard copy of this submission will follow, together with the following
attachments:
- Wodonga Institute of TAFE Capability Statement
- Wodonga Institute of TAFE 1995-6 Annual Report
We also invite you to visit our Web site located at www.wodonga.tafe.edu.au
The Wodonga Institute of TAFE would be delighted to provide further information
on request.
Mr Adrian Marron
Acting Director, Wodonga Institute of TAFE
15 McKoy Street
WODONGA VIC 3690
Back to top