An annual report released today highlights the bright future ahead for TAFE and for Queenslanders looking to gain the skills and training they need to get a job and build successful careers.
Minister for Training and Skills Development Shannon Fentiman said the TAFE Queensland annual report highlights the new direction that TAFE is heading in.
"It’s fantastic to see that TAFE Queensland is heading in the right direction with an improved completion rate of 90 per cent," Ms Fentiman said.
"This means more students are sticking with their studies and coming out with the training and qualifications they need to fill the jobs of the future."
The report noted that profits of $1.4 million for 2017/18 was more than $5.5 million above the projection.
"TAFE is doing great things for Queenslanders and that is clear in the latest report with a decrease in the cost of the average qualification and more than 88 per cent student satisfaction."
"We are providing young Queenslanders with the opportunities to go to TAFE with our Free TAFE campaign, with 160 qualifications on offer for all Queensland year 12 graduates."
"We are ensuring we can keep quality trainers and that’s why we have increased permanent staff by 172, providing employment certainty and world class trainers.
"New CEO Mary Campbell was appointed in July and is doing a wonderful job steering TAFE in a positive direction.
TAFE Queensland Chief Executive Officer Mary Campbell said she was extremely proud of what the organisation has accomplished over the past 12 months.
"TAFE Queensland has trained the 15,000 volunteer workforce who brought the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games to life; has won the bid to continue as managing contractor for the Australia-Pacific Technical Coalition, and has recently won the Queensland Training Awards - Large Training Provider of the Year for the fourth consecutive year," Mrs Campbell said.
"TAFE Queensland has an employer satisfaction rate of 94.1% and a proven track record in providing world-class training with over 85% of our graduates getting a job or going on to further study.
"We are committed to delivering high quality, practical, hands-on industry-relevant education and training services to our communities and industry partners. We have a highly experienced workforce dedicated to delivering best practice and innovative training that provides real employment outcomes for our students and employers.
"In the coming year, we will continue to focus on our students, communities and industry partners to provide Queenslanders with access to training and skills to equip them for the jobs of the future," she said.
"We are achieving great things in Queensland but we still need the Federal Government to come to the table with a fair deal," Ms Fentiman said.
"In a time when we are looking down the barrel of a skills shortage, the Morrison Government is cutting Queensland’s training budget by $70 million, putting up to 7,000 training places at risk across the state."
This year, TAFE Queensland celebrates 135 years of delivering quality education and training services to Queensland communities and industry partners, both locally and internationally.
"They are providing the training that Queenslanders need and we need to ensure they can continue to succeed into the future."
