Replacement VET courses at CDU will be critical, following cuts: Union

THE Territory’s leading tertiary education union says the courses that replace axed qualifications at Charles Darwin University will be critical.

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THE Territory’s leading tertiary education union says the courses that replace axed qualifications at Charles Darwin University will be critical.

National Tertiary Education Union NT president Darius Pfitzner said it wasn’t viable to cut qualifications such as Certificate IV in Hairdressing without ensuring students could complete their full qualifications and have the option to further pursue the profession.

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“You can’t propose cutting something like hairdressers and not replace it with something else,” he said.

“You can imagine the disappointment on young women’s faces across the Northern Territory at not being able to train in hairdressing in some form.

National Tertiary Education Union NT president Darius Pfitzner. Picture: Supplied

“If there’s some sort of demand, there is likely to be an alternative and we’d like to see that detail.”

Professor Pfitzner said access to VET courses would become critical as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Master Builders NT chief executive Dave Malone said if CDU was unable to provide these courses, alternatives needed to be realised quickly.

“VET sits at the very core of our ability as an industry to deliver services,” he said.

Master Builders NT chief executive Dave Malone. Picture: Elise Derwin

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“If CDU is not going to do it then we need to get together with the government quickly to find out who is and how.

“No doubt CDU has to make some decisions, but if there’s changes there’s a challenge for the entire community going forward. How do we make sure we have the right training opportunities for young men and women?”