TAFE SA has been expanding education and training opportunities in regional South Australia over the last two years, as demand grows from regional people wanting to acquire or update their skills in areas of strong industry expansion.
SA Acting Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education, Jane Lomax-Smith, says TAFE SA has responded to growing regional demand over the last two years by increasing teaching hours available in regional TAFE campuses.
“There has been growing demand in the regions from people applying to study courses or undertake training in areas related to industry sectors with growing job opportunities” the Minister said.
“This includes mining and mineral resources, engineering, construction, manufacturing, transport and community services.
“TAFE SA has been responding to this demand by increasing the number of offers to regional students.
“We have been boosting student hours to regional campuses and also boosting the hours of training available to apprentices and trainees to undertake their off-the job training through TAFE SA Regional.
“New figures show there were almost 26,000 students, apprentices and trainees enrolled in TAFE SA Regional last year. That’s around 1,000 more than two years before, with almost 400,000 more student hours delivered over that period.
“This is a very positive response to meeting growing regional skills demands and opportunities.”
Minister Lomax-Smith says the streamlining of internal business services in the further education department over the last year is supporting TAFE SA to deliver the growth in regional student hours.
“Internal efficiency supports TAFE to keep the emphasis where it should be and that’s with the frontline delivery of teaching,” she said.
“While internal business functions have been consolidated in the metropolitan area, the permanent regional staff affected are being offered and placed in alternative roles in their regions.”