Concern over accreditation of TasTAFE nursing courses

The State Opposition says questions over the continued accreditation of TasTAFE nursing courses are symptomatic of wider problems in the government training provider.

Campbell Street TasTAFE campus. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

QUESTIONS over the continued accreditation of TasTAFE nursing courses are symptomatic of wider problems in the government training provider, Labor’s Michelle O’Byrne says.

Ms O’Byrne said this morning TasTAFE’s enrolled nursing courses faced problems regaining their accreditation from the Australian Nursing Midwifery Accreditation Council.

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“It’s up to the government to come clean with all its deficiencies, but we’re advised that they’re to do with the qualification of staff, certainly the number of staff who are available to teach and that there are significant issues with the physical infrastructure that our students are learning in,” she said.

TasTAFE chief executive officer Jenny Dodd at the Campbell Street campus in Hobart. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“From the last visit, the Australian Nursing Midwifery Accreditation Council have advised that they are not up to standard and they have until May to get up to standard.

“How long has the government known that this was a problem, what actions can they take and what is the future for those students who are currently engaged? And will we be able to meet our enrolled nursing workforce needs into the future?”

There was confusion among intending students about when they could enrol and whether those who were currently enrolled would be able to graduate, Ms O’Byrne said.

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“The students that are due to finish in July, I understand won’t be affected by this now, although one does have to make sure that they’ve been given the appropriate support.

“The students who are looking forward to doing the course have been told that they won’t be able to apply until after May.

Labor’s Michelle O'Byrne says TasTAFE’s nursing accreditation is in trouble. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

“Concerningly, for reasons known only to TAFE and the government, they have taken another intake this week even knowing that they may not be able to finish because of an accreditation issue and knowing that they have got serious failings in the provision of their training.

TasTAFE CEO Jenny Dodd said TAFE presently had the proper accreditation.

“Any suggestion that TasTAFE has lost its enrolled nursing accreditation is wrong,” Ms Dodd said.

“The ANMAC re-accreditation process, conducted the week before last, involved visits to every site where we deliver enrolled nursing.

“This is a standard accreditation process that registered training organisations who choose to register with ANMAC go through every five years.

“TasTAFE is still awaiting the findings of the report from this process and will be addressing any issues that may arise.”

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