High school teachers cleared to teach in TAFE to beat shortage

Changes that clear the way for high school teachers to teach classes at TAFE and vocational colleges have been sped up to relieve educator shortages.

Federal Skills and Training Minister Brendan O'Connor. Photo: Sierra Haigh

Facing a shortage of vocational education teachers, federal Skills and Training Minister Brendan O’Connor has brought forward changes that make it easier for high school teachers and industry experts to teach in TAFEs and ­vocational colleges.

In a statement on Thursday, Mr O’Connor said the move was “a commonsense measure to increase the number of vocational education and training teachers, trainers, and assessors in classrooms, who are the foundation for our efforts to solve the worst skills shortage in decades”.

State and territory skills ministers have agreed to the changes to regulations in a bid to deal with the growing lack of VET teachers, trainers and assessors that is exacerbating skill shortages.

People qualified to register as high school teachers, who are already education trained, will be excused from having to obtain a full Certificate IV in training and assessment.

People with specialised industry expertise will be able to assist VET teachers, trainers and assessors without having to get more training, and people working towards a Certificate IV or diploma in training and assessment will be able to deliver training and contribute to assessment under supervision.

“These changes, while not a silver bullet, are an important part of a raft of measures we are introducing to bolster the VET teaching workforce and improve the standard of training delivery across the sector,” Mr O’Connor said.

They have been brought forward and will start from this month to allow TAFEs and VET colleges to immediately broaden their workforce as they deal with the staff shortage. Other changes planned in standards for TAFEs and vocational colleges won’t start until next year.

TAFE Directors Australia, which represents the 28 TAFE colleges, welcomed the move. “At last we see changes that recognise those who hold qualifications in education can be members of our TAFE workforce without having to do the full Certificate IV in training and assessment,” said TDA chief executive Jenny Dodd.

“This is a major step forward in putting capability back into vocational education and training.”

Ms Dodd said the change would also make it easier for TAFEs to attract people to assist in teaching and assessing who are experts in trade areas.

Independent Tertiary Educaion Council Australia CEO Troy Williams, who represents independent vocational education providers, said that, on balance, the changes were “a constructive step towards addressing shortages of trainers and assessors, particularly for providers that deliver VET In Schools programs”.

“ITECA is looking forward to a further conversation with the Australian government about other ways to support high quality independent RTOs (registered training organisations) attract and retain staff,” he said.