The Minns Labor Government is delivering on its commitment to rebuild and restore stability to TAFE NSW with a major reform that will save more than $80 million over four years and ensure teachers, not external consultants are at the centre of course material development.
For the past 10 years, TAFE NSW has had to compete with private training providers for annual government funding which involves unnecessary bureaucracy and instability across the public training provider.
From next year that will change. TAFE NSW will no longer compete with private providers for annual funding and will instead receive a predictable, long-term budget, allowing it to focus on delivering high-quality education and training to students across the state.
The change will cut administrative red tape for teachers and allow them to dedicate more time to course development and supporting students.
The decision reflects the critical role TAFE NSW plays as the public provider delivering quality vocational education and training to students and communities across NSW. Independent, industry and community training providers will continue to play a vital role to meet the skills NSW needs.
It also delivers on the NSW VET Review recommendation and supports the Minns Labor Government's commitment to build a strong and stable TAFE NSW which includes a record $3.4 billion investment in Skills and TAFE in the 2025/26 Budget.
Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said:
"TAFE NSW teachers are the best at what they do - they have the skills, professional industry experience, and knowledge to create effective learning environments that engage and support students to develop the skills needed to succeed in the workplace.
"It makes absolute sense that TAFE NSW draws on its incredible internal knowledge base for course development, along with the expertise of other TAFEs and industry partners, rather than rely on external companies.
"We made a commitment to remove TAFE NSW from competitive funding, and this is us delivering on that commitment. Not only will it provide a more reliable budget to support longer-term planning for educational delivery, but it will free up teachers from extra administrative tasks to focus more on what they do best."
NSW Teachers Federation Acting President, Amber Flohm said:
"The Federation welcomes the removal of TAFE NSW from contestable funding, receiving direct funding from government just as schools do.
"Freeing up our TAFE NSW teachers to do more of the job they love, teaching their students and preparing curriculum for them, rather than hours of administration which has no effect on their student's skill development and education, is to be applauded.
"Returning TAFE NSW to its rightful place as the public education institution which we can all be proud of, a government asset for the public good, serving our students, communities and addressing the skills shortages, is welcomed by the Federation after twelve long years of neglect and destruction by the Liberals and Nationals."
