TAFE NSW boss Stephen Brady asked to quit as restructure ‘transition’ begins

The boss of TAFE NSW has been shoved out the door amid a massive restructure and a bitter rift between burnt-out teachers and executive staff.

Former TAFE boss Steve Brady (left) with former Ryde MP Victor Dominello, former Skills Minister Alister Henskens, and former Premier Dominic Perrottet at TAFE Meadowbank in 2022. Picture: Gaye Gerard / NCA Newswire

The boss of TAFE NSW has been shoved out the door amid a massive restructure within the state’s public tertiary education provider, and a bitter rift between burnt-out teachers and executive staff.

TAFE managing director Stephen Brady handed in his resignation late on Monday night, however sources within TAFE and NSW parliament say the decision to quit was made for him.

In the most recent People Matter Employee Survey of NSW public servants, TAFE staff’s attitudes towards the senior executive fell to 41 per cent favourability, 19 per cent below the broader education portfolio.

Only 29 per cent said they felt “senior executives support my career advancement” while less than a quarter believe “change is managed well” within the organisation, falling five percentage points since 2023.

Earlier on Monday Mr Brady wrote to TAFE staff informing them the organisation would begin transitioning to a “new operating model” – which has already resulted in 80 positions being made redundant – this week.

Ex-TAFE Managing Director Stephen Brady. Picture: Supplied/TAFE Directors Australia

“This is an exciting change that delivers on one of the key recommendations of the NSW VET Review and will result in better outcomes for students, industry and local communities,” Mr Brady wrote.

“While positions, systems and processes are being finalised, current ways of working should remain in place to support business continuity.”

Skills and TAFE Minister Steve Whan during the NSW Budget Estimates. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

In a statement Skills Minister Steve Whan confirmed Mr Brady was “leaving the role” after three years in the top job, said “it is the right time for new leadership” to work through the restructure.

“Mr Brady was instrumental in leading TAFE NSW through the NSW VET Review, a Minns Labor Government commitment to restoring TAFE to the heart of the VET sector,” Mr Whan said.

“I thank Mr Brady for his service and contribution to TAFE NSW over the last three years and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”

Department of Education Deputy Secretary for Education and Skills Reform Chloe Read will assume the position of interim managing director until a replacement can be found.

Opposition skills spokesman Justin Clancy called on Minister Whan to be “be upfront with the public” about underlying issues at TAFE NSW, and said the “turmoil and poor staff morale raise questions” about the Minns government’s management of the organisation.

“At a time of widespread skills shortages and days out from the start of the 2025 TAFE year, the people of NSW must be assured there is not more being hidden from view regarding our public vocational education provider.”