Ms VAGHELA (Western Metropolitan) (17:47:09): My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Training and Skills. I am incredibly proud of our Labor government for investing over $172 million in the free TAFE initiative. Since the start of this year free TAFE has meant that thousands of people have started their journey to gain the skills they need for a good, sustainable job. Free TAFE for priority courses reduces the financial barriers for eligible students wanting to train in the courses that lead to the jobs that are most in demand from Victorian employers. In my electorate of Western Metropolitan Region Labor’s free TAFE has created fantastic opportunities for my constituents. The Western Metropolitan Region has the fastest growing suburbs in the country, and access to free TAFE courses is helping meet the demands of the growing population. Many of my constituents have found their true calling through free TAFE. Some of the students will finish their qualification and work on the huge infrastructure projects in my electorate funded by the Andrews Labor government. But with the increase in students across our TAFE campuses there is also a need for more TAFE teachers at our TAFE institutes. Therefore the action I seek from the minister is for her to provide me with information and resources available to assist constituents in my electorate looking to become TAFE teachers.
RESPONSE
Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education): Thousands of Victorians are on the way to getting the skills they need to secure jobs in high- demand industries, with more than 19,000 students commencing in Free TAFE courses so far this year, representing a doubling of commencements in these courses compared to the same time last year. To ensure Victoria’s TAFE institutes and dual sector universities continue to provide quality training, all TAFE teachers will be required to have current skills in a relevant industry and hold a current Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (or be willing to get one). The Certificate IV in Training and Assessment is a nationally-recognised qualification. For those interested in becoming a TAFE teacher, there is information and resources on the recently launched ‘Jobs at TAFE’ website. These resource provide the guidance to become a TAFE teacher. The ‘Jobs at TAFE’ website also brings together all TAFE teaching and administrative jobs from across Victoria to a single centralised platform. The website is searchable by location enabling those interested in working at a TAFE in their local area to find suitable jobs. People interested in working at TAFE can also register to become part of the Jobs at TAFE community and receive job alerts, search for jobs in the industries they work in, and apply for advertised roles. The website is www.jobs.tafe.vic.gov.au.