The Andrews Labor Government is rebuilding Victoria’s struggling TAFE system, with William Angliss Institute receiving a $2 million boost from the first $20 million of the emergency TAFE Rescue Fund.
Minister for Training and Skills Steve Herbert, said the emergency funding was the start of the Labor Government’s work to rebuild public TAFE institutes, after the previous Coalition Government’s TAFE cuts brought the sector to its knees.
The Coalition’s funding cuts have left Victorian TAFEs in financial turmoil, with the state’s 12 institutes forecasting a combined $71.8 million operating loss for last year.
Seven Victorian TAFEs in financial risk will receive a share of the first fast tracked $20 million from the $320 million TAFE Rescue Fund.
The fast-tracked funding will help struggling TAFEs rebuild and retain staff, and improve training, courses and job opportunities for students.
William Angliss Institute’s $2 million in emergency funding will help rebuild its cash reserves so it can continue providing high-quality hospitality and tourism training.
A moratorium on TAFE staff redundancies imposed by Mr Herbert in December resulted in jobs being saved in TAFES across Victoria.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Training and Skills, Steve Herbert
“The Coalition’s cuts gutted our TAFE system, making it so much harder for our kids to get skills, get a job and build a better life.”
“This is an emergency. With TAFEs running up more than $70 million in losses last year, there are TAFE campuses across Victoria in financial strife and our TAFE Rescue Fund will help to start the rebuilding process.
“This funding will end the cycle of job losses, campus closures and course cuts that have decimated institutes like William Angliss.”
“The Coalition’s TAFE cuts particularly hurt William Angliss, but with the Government’s support, the institute will make a small surplus in 2014.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020