TasTAFE hits back at claims of ‘toxic’ workforce and high levels of staff turnover

“There are very few staff who are leaving the organisation.” The TasTAFE CEO has hit back at claims the organisation is besieged by a huge staff turnover and a miserable work environment.

The TasTAFE campus on Campbell Street, Hobart.

TasTAFE has hit back at claims it has a “toxic” workplace that is causing teachers to resign in droves.

On Monday, the Mercury reported claims from a former TasTAFE teacher who described the training institute’s workplace as “a toxic environment” with people that “makes your day-to-day work life a misery”.

The man said as a result of high teacher turnover, students were getting a sub-par education with prolonged course delivery, a vast increase in online classes, and a tripling of class sizes.

But TasTAFE chief executive Grant Dreher said the organisation was taking steps to “ensure a positive and healthy culture” where “staff are valued”.

He said TasTAFE had been working with staff to develop a set of organisational values, and conducting cultural workshops.

TasTAFE new CEO Grant Dreher with Cert IV Cookery students, Monrutai Chulaluxsananukul, Hirushi Udawatta and Nicolas Pachon. Picture: Richard Jupe

Mr Dreher also pushed back at claims that high numbers of employees were resigning, claiming “there are very few staff who are leaving the organisation”.

He noted that across the country, vocational training organisations were facing challenges with teacher recruitment.

He said TasTAFE’s turnover rate had remained stable over the past two years, with 2.87 per cent in 2022 and 2.12 per cent in 2021, compared to the national average of 8 per cent.

Mr Dreher said the organisation surveyed staff to find out if employees were happy with the organisation’s transition out of the state service, and into a government-run not-for-profit.

He said 58 per cent of staff responded, who said they were satisfied working at TasTAFE following the transition.

Last year, TasTAFE launched a “Be a life changer, be a TasTAFE teacher” recruitment campaign that will continue throughout 2023.

Earlier this week, Labor TAFE spokesman Josh Willie said the government had “botched” its plans to reform TasTAFE in a $114 million overhaul over four years, and had failed to recruit 100 additional teachers as promised during the last election.

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