TAFE NSW Randwick: Liberals commit $774,000 for dentistry facilities and teaching equipment

The NSW Skills Minister has defended his party’s support for vocational training as the Perrottet government announces $319m investment to upgrade and improve facilities across NSW.

NSW skills minister Alister Henskens. Photo: supplied

At a press conference announcing $774,000 in funding to Randwick TAFE, the NSW Skills Minister defended his party’s record on funding vocational education, despite student numbers falling since 2013.

The Liberal MP for Ku-ring-gai, Alister Henskens, said the government had made “record investment” in vocational education and training over the past two years.

“We’ve had record investments – capital and operational – in vocational education, to make sure that our economy stays highly skilled,” Mr Henskens said at a tour of Randwick TAFE facilities receiving a fresh injection of funds ahead of the state election.

Data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) for March 2021 showed there were 83,000 fewer apprenticeships and traineeships nationally compared to September 2013.

Mr Henskens said the reduction in student places had “happened nationwide” amid a spike in university enrolment, and that the state government had poured $700m of “record funding “ into vocational training in the previous two years.

Alister Henskens, NSW skills minister. Photo: supplied

“What we’re seeing here today is actually a microcosm of what’s happening all across the state, which is our record investment in vocational skills and training,” Mr Henskens said.

The NSW government announced it would commit a total $319m to upgrade facilities for TAFE institutions across the state ahead of the state election set for March 2023.

NSW skills minister Alister Henskens joined Liberal candidate for Coogee Dr Kylie von Muenster and Liberal candidate for Vaucluse Kellie Sloane at TAFE NSW Randwick.

Of this $319m, with “more to come”, $774,000 will be allocated directly to upgrading dentistry facilities and teaching equipment for dental technician labs located at the Randwick campus within the Coogee electorate.

The Albanese government announced $871.7m for 480,000 free TAFE places over four years during its Jobs and Skills Summit held in September as part of an agreement between the federal, state and territory governments.

The funds will be allocated to TAFE courses in industries impacted by the Covid pandemic including hospitality and tourism, as well as to fill future skills gaps and vacancies in construction, resources, digital and manufacturing.

NSW will be allocated about a third of the 180,000 free TAFE places set to be handed out by the federal government in 2023.

Students in the woodworking rooms at TAFE NSW Randwick.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the summit the “billion-dollar training blitz” driven by publicly funded TAFE would supercharge an “urgent” need to upskill Australians and place them in well-paid vocations.

“We want to see more Australians gaining the skills they need to find good jobs, in areas of national priority,” Mr Albanese said.

Mr Henskens said NSW has 30 per cent of the country’s population but trains 44 per cent of all national TAFE students.

“We are a third of the nation, so of course, we would get a third of the national investment,” Mr Henskens said.

“It’s not representing any discrepancy for New South Wales, it’s just suggesting we’re just getting our share.”

The Perrottet government has earmarked $774,000 to upgrade facilities for TAFE institutions across the state. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Steve Gosch

The federal government has said the free TAFE places announced by Mr Albanese during the Jobs and Skills Summit are based on funding, not places.

Mr Henskens said the Perrottet government would be eyeing further funding for the state’s TAFEs moving forward.

“It’s a big investment because vocational education and training is so important to our economy, the businesses of the future and the jobs of the future.”