The connected learning centres due to be rolled out in Corowa and regional NSW will be far from the situation in Dapto, says TAFE NSW’s managing director Jon Black.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The concept of CLCs was developed with plans to reform the training provider in NSW, with Corowa and Deniliquin set to receive the centres.
Mr Black, responding to comments made by Greens NSW TAFE spokeswoman Dawn Walker, said the fitting of a shopfront in Dapto came before the strategy.
“The Dapto model gives access to the TAFE system but doesn’t provide access to the technology for the practical elements of training,” he said.
“Under the flexible learning strategy, Dapto would be a designated access point, not a CLC; it does not meet the requirements.
“Dapto is adjacent to full-scale campuses – a lot of other centres in regional NSW did not have the access to a major campus within 10km.”
A location for the Corowa CLC is yet to be determined, but with the first four to be opened in November, Mr Black said all would be functional by the end of 2018.
“I’m excited about getting the first one out there so we can debunk some of the myths and engage the community in how this is working,” he said.
“The technology we’re putting into our CLCs is two generations ahead of what’s currently in other TAFE facilities.
“In regional areas we were constrained, as we were only able to offer the courses respective to teachers in each area.
“We can now offer, instead of two or three, the full range of TAFE courses and skillsets as demanded by residents.”
As part of the strategy there will be “mobile training units” for students to workshop practical skills where required and block training will also happen across many courses.
Mr Black said the restructure of TAFE was now complete with all campuses under the one umbrella organisation.
“There’s no such thing as institutes anymore and within TAFE NSW itself, 85 per cent of staff supported the new model,” he said.
“It enables the student to start a course in Albury and finish in Sydney, or vice versa.
“What we’re trying to do is make sure people in regional NSW have equal access to the training opportunities in metropolitan areas.”
The NSW Government has allocated $1.7 billion for TAFE NSW in the 2017-2018 budget.
