AEU branch president Mary Bluett opened proceedings and a series of strong voices protesting the Victorian TAFE changes followed. Union and secondary school leaders, teachers and students all made one thing clear: the changes are unacceptable.

Here's what speechmakers had to say:

Federal president AMWU Julius Roe made the point that in the free market, providers go for the most popular areas - the easiest and the quickest to train - rather than focusing on meeting society's needs.

VCOSS president Marilyn Webster described the TAFE changes as "a great loss for women, migrant and refugee groups and homeless youth attempting a transition into a more stable life".

TAFE student Josh Gallagher said undertaking the Diploma of Community Welfare changed his life. In his course 67% of students are on a concession rate. Asked whether they would enrol under the current system, they said no.

Chisholm TAFE student Eloise Tuai, who started a "No HECS for TAFE" campaign and, with fellow students, has held vigils outside Parliament, said the group would "continue to raise this injustice and be a thorn in somebody's side."

Principal of Bendigo Senior Secondary College Dale Pearce told the audience the policy penalising retraining is contrary to the mantra of life-long learning. "We know our students retrain and sometimes backtrack to gain the qualifications they need, and it is in the interests of our community and economy that they do this."

Ballarat University TAFE teacher Jo Fogarty said she has "never before seen a policy that will be so devastating to the VET sector".

The more people learn about the TAFE changes the more eagre they are to get involved in stopping them. Action to revoke the State Government's "reforms" is stepping up.

Read more about what people are saying, and find out how to get involved in the TAFE 4 All campaign, at tafe4all.org.au.

— Posted by Anna Kelsey-Sugg, AEU Victorian branch