23 November 2009
I think our most disadvantaged will suffer
I completed my Diploma of Welfare studies at the Geelong TAFE in 2004. I was a single mother and dependant on welfare payments at the time of my decision to choose this course as a career path.
I also had a clear interest and desire to obtain employment in this sector when I had completed my studies.
If the fee changes, which are now imposed, were in place when I was considering applying, I know that I would not have been able to proceed with an application. The reality is that I would not have been in a financial position to do so and I suspect this would be the case for many people who access TAFE.
The course I did provided all the students with the knowledge, skills and values required to perform competently as professional social welfare workers. There was a balance between theory and practice, providing classroom and community-based learning environments, that made my transition into the workforce realistic and manageable.
My teachers' dedication, their support to delivering an honest, realistic, hands-on curriculum, and their depth of knowledge, experience and understanding of the welfare sector was invaluable.
I will be forever grateful to the TAFE system, for I gained employment in Child Protection DHS Footscray. I am now a senior worker in the Long Term Out of Home Care Youth Team.
I also attribute my achievement of being awarded Child Protection Worker for North Western Metropolitan Area in 2007 to the standard of their course, teaching skills, professionalism, knowledge and skills imparted to me.
My ability to participate in and complete the TAFE course, and then gain employment, assisted my family and myself - financially, socially and emotionally.
I feel that the most disadvantaged groups of our society, students on welfare or pensions, will now, under the TAFE changes, not have this opportunity and choice available to them.
— Posted by Susan Vickers, former Geelong TAFE student
[What do you think about the prospect of people like Susan not having an opportunity to access affordable education - without going into debt? Click "add a comment" below and let readers know.]
This is sh*t. As other commentators have said, this is only going to harm the most disadvantaged, i.e those from lower-socioeconomic backgrounds, the long term unemployed and single parents. Due to this hike in fees, how are those who already face multiple barriers to even low-skilled, low paid employment ever going to get out poverty?
Why should one have to pay lots of money just to be able to get a halfway decent job?
And also, it is already hard enough being a student, because Youth Allowance / Austudy payments are minimal compared to actual living costs, therefore meaning that one has to work long hours in low paying jobs while studying just to even maintain an income level that is barely above the poverty line. The government should be making it easier for students, not harder, as it is in the interests of the whole of society to have a highly educated and skilled workforce.
Dinana, Alice Springs, 30 NOV 2009 01:44
Uni is ridiculously expensive and there for many people cant get a degree, why now make tafe unaffordable? Young people should not have to get them selves in debt just to get a job it doesnt make sense. the only thing that will come from making tafe expensive is people just wont get an education.
Casey, Melbourne, 24 NOV 2009 14:35
The people that will suffer from this really are the disadvantaged and young people. I've only just recently finished uni myself and not only was it very expensive but there is a lot of opposition in the (high school) classroom and even from some teachers NOT to go to uni.
Some students press through this, but then to have what they've worked so hard for snatched away because of high costs? I'm sorry but it's just not good enough. If its a minimum that people have to qualified for certain key jobs in different industries then at the very least these key jobs should be covered by the government. I know our polly's are trying to get over the downturn but they're going to have to find another way to line their pockets. Stealing education isn't good enough!
Rosie Webb, Ballarat, 23 NOV 2009 19:42
I too am a single mum on beniefts like Susan was and I am keen to study again next year but I already have a mortgage and my two children to support so fees of thousands of dollars will stop me studying. The alternatve of a loan is also not an option because my small income is already streched beyond means.
When I do go to re-enter the workforce, I am going to be going in with very minimal skills and be forced to take lower income jobs which will put a lot of strain on my home loan and general budget. I really hope the government wakes up and has a good look at the effects this is REALLY going to have on communities.
Why lump a debt on people trying to further their employment opportunities and sort their lives out? Really bad decision on the goverments behalf.
Nicole, Bendigo, 23 NOV 2009 15:48
Fees should not be increasing by so much. The government should be paying to train its workers not the other way round. How do they justify slugging citizens so much when its the workers contributions to our good nation that keeps Australia afloat in business.
sam, Adelaide, 23 NOV 2009 14:38
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