28 January 2010
A new year and new voices for the TAFE4All campaign
My name is Jo Fogarty and I'm the new vice president for TAFE at the Australian Education Union. Let me say first of all that I wish everyone a healthy, happy and fulfilling 2010.
Last year I spoke at a conference discussing, from a TAFE teacher's perspective, the impact of the Brumby Government's skills "reforms" on TAFE teachers and students. (You can read my blog post from the conference here: http://bit.ly/8X8L2).
While my role has changed, (as TAFE vice president my job is now to lead the TAFE4All campaign), my bewilderment at the government's Skill "Reform" agenda has not.
We need to continue the TAFE4All campaign in 2010, and we need to be as loud and as active as ever.
As I write, many TAFE students will be enrolling, or preparing to enrol, and facing substantial fee increases. Students enroling in diplomas and advanced diplomas who are concession holders will find that they are not eligible for the $55 concession rate and that, instead, the fee has hiked to around $2000 - or even higher.
Students will be faced with the decision to take out loans, or not to enrol at all.
Imagine the strain that having to find this extra money will put on individuals and families. It means some students will be unable to attend TAFE.
To quote AEU Victorian branch president Mary Bluett, "TAFE is an opportunity that many people will no longer be able to afford".
The State Government has said that there will be a review of the TAFE changes in May 2010, so we need to keep up the pressure.
Continue to raise your voices: comment at the "add comment" button here at the website under the blog entries, join the TAFE4All Facebook group and follow the campaign on Twitter. If you have a story about how the TAFE changes have affected you, email it to us and we'll publish it on the website.
The government and new minister Bronwyn Pike must understand and accept the impact of these reforms. Together, we'll keep campaigning until they do.
As a student in the RMIT Professional Writing and Editing course I am appalled at the government's descrimination against post graduate students. One of the reasons the course has such a high reputation is the standard and diversity of the students. Presently a large percentage (I believe 80-90%) of students enrolled are post graduate. The whole dynamics of the course will change with this astronimcal increase in fees.It seems to be assumed that just because people have completed a degree they are able to afford additional studies. Education should be encouraged not penalised.
Jill, Kew, 09 FEB 2010 15:33
As an already enrolled (RMIT) Tafe student I am outraged to discover that due to a technical blunder that could have ensured I complete my studies at the original cost at the time of my enrollment I have now been invoiced for full-fees. As I am not the only student in this appalling positition I demand that despite "legislative constraints and requirements" that the original fees be honoured.
Julie, Reservoir, 08 FEB 2010 10:01
Two of my children are in the midst of their diplomas. The fees last year were around $850 & a little more. This year we have paid out over $2,000 for one enrolment & are waiting for the other, which was the higher of the two last year. We have heard that this particular course is now costing around $17,000 to start. I have no comment, I'm quite speechless....
Pam, Emerald, 06 FEB 2010 11:55
Indeed many of the students, studying the Diploma of Community and Welfare Work, of which I am one, have become so concerned regarding fee hikes and structural changes resulting in 'bridging' courses and, apparent confusion in adminsistration regarding students future study has resulted in many leaving or/and looking for alternates. A great loss to the Welfare industry and mcuh time wasted by students who need to gain Diploma for employment.
Gabrielle, Bendigo, 01 FEB 2010 21:39
As a publisher I am already picking up reports that potential students in Diploma courses are not enrolling because of the fees. They are simply walking away from the courses.
Georges Bernard, , 29 JAN 2010 11:53
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