Mount Gambier TAFE students will benefit from a new regional fund, which will be a major boost for the skills and training sector and tackling South Australia’s skills shortages.
The State Government’s $10.2m Regional Skills Development Fund (RSDF) will allow TAFE SA to offer more courses in regional and rural South Australia for the first time in many years.
Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister Clare Scriven said the funding will allow Mount Gambier TAFE to run courses with a minimum of five people per course instead of the previous 12 students.
“What is really important about that is it gives the added flexibility that we need for courses, which often in regional areas do not have huge numbers, but are nevertheless important to the local industry,” she said.
“Having a minimum class size of five instead of 12 will make a really big difference for lots of local people and for filling the skills gaps that we have.”
Classes requiring a minimum of 12 students meant some courses could not be offered due to insufficient numbers, or students had to travel hundreds of kilometres to attend a class.
The change will allow more students access to more courses across the state and the courses will target priority areas where skilled people are required.
“The regions are so important when it comes to training and skills, but distance can often be a barrier to accessing high-quality training,” Minister Scriven said.
“That’s why I’m thrilled this fund will help support regional students undertake the courses they need in a more local area and familiar surroundings.”
The skills investment in the budget will also see $28m in targeted training subsidy increases for not-for-profit and industry-based training providers, along with a new $9m skills fund to deliver contemporary training facilities and industry relevant equipment.
The variety of skills and training initiatives builds on the government’s investments to tackle skills shortages and improve completion rates in vocational training.
This includes five new technical colleges, with one in Mount Gambier, increased funding to TAFE SA, and a previous $13.7m immediate response to address South Australia’s skills crisis.
Minister for Education, Training and Skills Blair Boyer said investment in skills and training initiatives were vital to ensure South Australia was growing economically and building on the opportunities ahead.
“We need to be planning for the future now, so that we are addressing skills shortages with a high-quality trained workforce from right across the state and we are investing in the regions,” he said.
Minister Scriven said workforce issues and getting skilled staff was one of the biggest local issues raised with her.
“That can be anything from getting baristas right through to technical IT staff or trades, across the gamut people are looking for staff and they are looking for the training opportunities to fill those skills gaps,” she said.
“So, it really is a priority, and I am really pleased that this additional flexibility will now enable more of that to happen.
“It’s imperative we support the TAFE and training industry in South Australia so that we are building on the foundations to train the skilled workers we need for the future.”
TAFE SA Chief Executive David Coltman said TAFE SA welcomed the new RSDF and the positive impact it will have for TAFE SA delivery in the South East and across regional South Australia.
“The RSDF will enable local delivery of regional training that has previously been unviable to offer due to minimum class sizes not being achieved,” Mr Coltman said.
“This new initiative, commencing 1 January 2024, will increase accessibility of quality education and training and will enable more people to learn where they live across regional SA.
“In conjunction with TAFE SA’s Regional Skills Advisory Committees, the RSDF will be utilised to ensure local course delivery meets regional skills needs.”
