The NSW Government's $325 million Budget commitment to rebuild the TAFE workforce is a strong investment to give NSW the skills base it needs to confront looming challenges such as the housing crisis and the energy transition, the NSW Teachers Federation said today.
The investment will convert TAFE teachers and staff to permanent positions. It will help repair the damage caused by the discredited former 'smart and skilled' policy that deregulated vocational education and ushered in mass casualisation of the workforce.
"To have a flourishing vocational education system, you need a stable workforce of teachers which is why this is such a crucial commitment from the NSW Government," NSW Teachers Federation President Henry Rajendra said.
The Budget also commits to supporting more than 23,000 new apprentices and 4,800 existing workers to enter the construction workforce over the next two years.
"Investing in skills delivers a powerful return for the people of NSW," Rajendra said. "It deepens our pool of talent while allowing people to shape their future and embark on new career paths.
"We commend the NSW Government's commitment, which builds on the 3,000 TAFE teachers who have already been made permanent."
