The Tasmanian Government has announced the role and function of Tasmania’s public vocational education and training (VET) providers will be reviewed.

 

State Minister for Education and Skills, Nick McKim, said it was crucial that future VET reform would ensure that Tasmania would achieve the best results as part of the national VET reform agenda.

 

“The focus will be on providing opportunities for all Tasmanians to access the education and skills training that will make a difference to their lives,” Mr McKim said.

 

“The review’s main focus will be on the two major public VET providers – the Tasmanian Skills Institute and the Tasmanian Polytechnic.”

 

The review will investigate the current governance, funding and operational arrangements of the public providers of VET in Tasmania and their capacity to improve student participation and retention rates, respond to identified skills needs and contribute to Tasmania’s productivity.

 

Mr McKim said the review will be conducted by Virsis Consulting director, Virginia Simmons AO, a former director and CEO of the Chisholm Institute of TAFE and a Deputy Vice Chancellor (TAFE) and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Industry Relationships) at Swinburne University of Technology.

 

Ms Simmons will provide a report by April 2012.