I wish to respond to comments made by the Greens in the north coast this week about the future of TAFE in the regions, emphasising that North Coast TAFE is not being privatised and continues to be here and affordable in the Northern Rivers and the Tweed Valley.
New students start learning every week at North Coast TAFE – with nearly 900 accessing a free place in the last month.
I want to assure our communities that North Coast TAFE still provides generous fee concessions, as well as the fee-free scholarships that have proved so popular for eligible students, and is definitely not being privatised.
In fact, the minister publicly confirmed at an event in our region last week that there was absolutely no intention of privatising TAFE.
North Coast TAFE, like all education providers, is evolving and changing to ensure that it meets the needs of its students.
We are focused on new initiatives such as our Portable On-site Delivery Spaces for civil construction so that we remain relevant and continue to be one of the larger employers in the region.
Our students expect and deserve the best possible training in the region and we are focussed on delivering this. North Coast TAFE is here to stay in the Northern Rivers and the Tweed Valley.
Elizabeth McGregor, North Coast TAFE’s institute director
