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Labor Government Restoring Student And Staff Representation To University And TAFE Governing Bodies

20 October 2015

The Andrews Labor Government is delivering a key election commitment to restore student and staff representation on University and TAFE Councils and Boards.

Minister for Training and Skills Steve Herbert said good governance must include the views of staff and students because they’re central to the operation of TAFEs and Universities.

Legislation will today be introduced into Parliament to amend the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 which will ensure there is at least one elected student and one elected member of staff on every University Council and at least one elected staff member on every TAFE Board, along with the CEO.

Higher education and vocational training institutes are large, complex entities, responsible for large sums of money and while they must be concerned with business and financial outcomes, they must ensure educational needs and concerns of staff and students are considered in the decision making process.

Mr Herbert said these outcomes can best be achieved by having staff and student representation on the governing bodies.

Staff and students who are elected to council and board positions will receive training on how to carry out their positions.

The former Liberal Government, for ideological reasons, neglected the needs of University and TAFE students and teachers by abolishing their representation on the governing bodies of tertiary institutions.

Mr Herbert said the Labor Government has listened to University and TAFE staff and students who feel their voices weren’t being heard after the changes made by the former Government.

The minimum size of both TAFE and University Boards will increase slightly to accommodate the new positions.

We will work with institutions during the transition period once the legislation passes both Houses of Parliament.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Training and Skills Steve Herbert

“TAFEs and Universities are major learning institutions and we’re restoring the capacity for staff and students to have a position on boards and councils.”

“We made an election commitment to restore democracy to TAFEs and Universities and we’re fulfilling that commitment.”

“Unlike the former Liberal Government, Labor will always stand up for staff and students to make sure their voices are heard and their needs are met.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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