TAFE SA awarded Large Training Provider of the Year at 2024 Australian Training Awards

South Australia has cleaned up at the national training awards. See the winners here.

TAFE SA has been crowned the nation’s best large training organisation, seven years after it was forced by the sector watchdog to suspend enrolments in substandard courses.

South Australians have also taken out the best school-based apprentice and vocational student awards at the 2024 Australian Training Awards on Friday night.

TAFE SA was named large training provider of the year, while Adelaide’s FCTA Building Careers won best small provider.

TAFE SA has been crowned the nation’s best large training organisation, seven years after it was forced by the sector watchdog to suspend enrolments in substandard courses.

It is a stark turnaround for TAFE, which was declared “in crisis” in late 2017 after an audit by the national regulator uncovered serious problems.

The win acknowledges the turnaround, high rates of employment among graduates and increases in enrolments.

TAFE SA beat finalists Charles Darwin University and the Motor Trade Association of WA.

Last financial year 88 per cent of TAFE SA vocational education and training graduates were employed or enrolled in further study, up from about 78 per cent in 2021-22.

Almost 70 per cent improved their job situation after graduating, up from almost 52 per cent.

Education, Training and Skills Minister Blair Boyer said enrolments in TAFE SA courses rose last year for the first time in a decade.

More than 15,000 people have enrolled in fee-free courses subsidised by the state government.

“If South Australia is going to be successful in creating the skilled workers it needs for AUKUS, the Torrens to Darlington project, hydrogen, the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital and three-year-old preschool then we must have a public training provider that is firing on all cylinders,” Mr Boyer said.

TAFE SA last won the top award in 2011.

In December 2017 a scathing review by the Australian Skills Quality Authority found problems with all 16 of the courses randomly selected for audit at TAFE SA.

Enrolments were initially suspended in 14 courses.

About 800 affected students studying qualifications including hairdressing, construction, plumbing, commercial cookery, aged care had to undertake make-up tuition and assessments.

Then-chief executive Robin Murt resigned and board chair Peter Vaughan was dismissed.

Education Minister at the time, Labor’s current Deputy Premier Susan Close, declared TAFE SA was “in crisis”.

“There are deep problems but we will fix them,” she said.