I have grave fears for the course I teach, the Diploma of Visual Arts at the Horsham Campus of Ballarat University TAFE.

It will be ok while fee maintenance exists for currently enrolled students but post-2011, when this expires, there will almost certainly be a major impact on numbers which will threaten the viability of arts education at diploma level in this region.

In fact, many students are scrambling to get as much of the program finished as they can while they have access to concession based enrolment. The majority of these students are mature age or come from disadvantaged backgrounds. In many cases they carry existing qualifications which makes them ineligible for Vet Fee Help and any aspirations of future study will be simply unaffordable.

This particular program has been shredded over the past ten years or so. Staff numbers have been reduced from four full time ongoing staff to one and the program status shifted from full time to part time only. Many of the subjects are now offered online which presents many logistical issues for students with poor computer skills.

Completing the course on this campus is increasingly difficult for those students looking to stay in the region.

I'm certainly not optimistic about this and many other courses at this campus surviving into the future if the current skills reform criteria continues.

A number of my colleagues have expressed serious concern over the future of their programs and their own longevity in this industry under these new reforms.

One final point. Arts education offers much more to the health and wellbeing of a community than job outcomes. Sadly the criterion for change is more often based on economic rationalism than the need for good health.

— Posted by Ewen Ross, Coordinator Arts Program, Ballarat University TAFE (Horsham Campus)