With more than 30 training locations across South Australia and links to community, industry and students in every region, TAFE SA has the potential to transform the social and economic outlook for all South Australians.

The South Australian Government is committed to supporting and strengthening TAFE SA as the public provider of vocational education and training, particularly in the areas of:

• providing quality training
• enabling social mobility and participation for all cohorts
• valuing TAFE SA workforce
• supporting industry and employers, including emerging industries
• meeting regional needs
• ensuring good governance.

About the roadmap

The roadmap for the future of TAFE SA  (PDF 1 MB) was developed following extensive consultation across the state.

The roadmap signals a renewed commitment to TAFE SA. It provides the opportunity to rebuild and reimagine the role of the public provider of quality vocational education and training in South Australia. It addresses how to respond to the unmet needs of future South Australian industries, and the opportunity for further national leadership in skills and training delivery.

The roadmap’s renewed vision, purpose and goals and the associated recommendations will now guide and inform the development of an exciting 10-year strategic plan for TAFE SA.

Goals of the roadmap

The roadmap defines 6 key goals for the future of TAFE SA over the next decade:

• Goal 1 – transforming South Australia
• Goal 2 – industry partnered
• Goal 3 – job outcomes
• Goal 4 – student centred
• Goal 5 – place-based
• Goal 6 – future focused.

Immediate actions

There are also 6 immediate actions that will be undertaken in response to the roadmap.

1. Consult on the potential changes to the TAFE SA Act 2012

Consultation will commence to determine if TAFE SA’s existing structure as a Statutory Corporation best positions TAFE SA to achieve the Roadmap’s goals.

2. New Reconciliation Action Plan

Engagement will continue on a new Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) to establish plans to build higher trust, lower prejudice, and pride in First Nations cultures within TAFE SA.

3. Shared use of TAFE SA campuses to benefit local communities

TAFE SA will accelerate consultation on opportunities for businesses and industry to share its training sites, as well as broader opportunities to maximise sites for the benefit of local communities.

4. Student hubs

Implementation of a student hub model will be accelerated, which will establish TAFE SA as a local place of learning and support for students, irrespective of the provider they have enrolled with (university, TAFE SA, private RTOs). The student hubs will create an authentic and responsive community space that will meet the learning needs of students, staff and tenants of TAFE SA campuses.

5. Enhanced enrolment process

Updated and enhanced enrolment processes will be implemented to make sure students experience increased support, collaboration and communication when joining TAFE SA in 2024. This will be informed by the end-to-end re-design of the enrolment process undertaken this year.

6. Regional delivery

More courses will be offered in regional and rural South Australia, aligned with the needs of local industry and government priorities, through consultation with the newly established Regional Skills Advisory Committees (RSAC).

How the roadmap was developed

Associate Professor Jeannie Rea of Victoria University oversaw the development the roadmap for the future of TAFE SA and was tasked with making recommendations on the:

• role of TAFE SA as the public provider within the broader education and training system, over the next decade and beyond
• opportunities, risks and barriers that must be addressed to ensure that TAFE SA is able to fulfil its role and operate efficiently and effectively.

Associate Professor Rea also drew on the advice and expertise of an expert advisory panel, comprising of:

• Peter Nolan, Ai Group
• Anthony Kittel, REDARC Electronics
• Rebecca Brookes, Australian Education Union
• Jo Denley, TAFE SA Board
• Madeline Richardson, Skills SA
• Maria Peters, VET expert
• Andrea Broadfoot, Employment Facilitator – Local Jobs Program, North West Country SA.

Consultation process

TAFE SA is owned by all South Australians as a public provider. Therefore, all South Australians were given the opportunity to have their say on its role and purpose, now and into the future.

An extensive consultation process was undertaken. Stakeholders and the community had the opportunity to provide input into the roadmap through:

• A symposium jointly hosted by the South Australian Government and the AEU – bringing together experts to consider the big questions around the future of TAFE.
• Targeted roundtables with staff, unions, industry and employer stakeholders, regional communities, the Commissioner for Children and Young People, the Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People, the South Australian Skills Commission,  advocacy organisations and TAFE SA students.
• Consultation forums for priority cohorts including First Nations people.
• Written submissions.
• Online survey: YourSay for general public consultation.