A parliamentary question regarding the abolition of regional coordinator positions within the Department of Education and Training, and the Minister's assurance of redeployment and retention of staff in regional WA. The Minister outlines a plan to integrate planning roles into TAFE colleges and offers alternative positions.

AnsweredQoN 616Legislative Assembly
Asked
13 October 2005
Portfolio
Education and Training

QuestionView source ↗

Some notice has been given of this question. I refer to a Department of Education and Training notice that from 31 October this year, the role of level 6 regional coordinator, planning will cease, affecting nine regional positions, including the manager of the section. Will the minister provide assurances that the nine people will be redeployed and retained in the regions, and that there will be no further abolition of similar key positions in regional Western Australia? Mr A.J. CARPENTER

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for this question. I have been provided with the following information by way of an answer. The Department of Education and Training is in the process of developing a more effective and efficient regional planning model. As the TAFE colleges deliver more than 90 per cent of publicly-funded training in regional communities, it is intended to develop a much stronger role for the colleges in providing analysis and advice on regional training requirements. In this context the department already has made arrangements to place a number of the regional coordinators-planning into regional TAFE colleges. In other regions, the colleges will be provided with additional funding to support the enhancement of the planning function. In addition, as a consequence of the state government’s commitment to raise the school leaving age, a number of training mentors are in the process of being appointed across the state. These positions will provide a valuable resource to the community by linking young people to appropriate education, training and employment opportunities. Each of the regional coordinators was offered a transfer into a training mentor position. The government remains strongly committed to the provision of a comprehensive and integrated education training system that meets the needs of the community and industry in all regions of the state. The roll-out of the training mentor program over the next three years and the development of a more effective planning model will result in an increase and improvement in the education and training services provided in the regions.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for this question. I have been provided with the following information by way of an answer. The Department of Education and Training is in the process of developing a more effective and efficient regional planning model. As the TAFE colleges deliver more than 90 per cent of publicly-funded training in regional communities, it is intended to develop a much stronger role for the colleges in providing analysis and advice on regional training requirements. In this context the department already has made arrangements to place a number of the regional coordinators-planning into regional TAFE colleges. In other regions, the colleges will be provided with additional funding to support the enhancement of the planning function. In addition, as a consequence of the state government’s commitment to raise the school leaving age, a number of training mentors are in the process of being appointed across the state. These positions will provide a valuable resource to the community by linking young people to appropriate education, training and employment opportunities. Each of the regional coordinators was offered a transfer into a training mentor position. The government remains strongly committed to the provision of a comprehensive and integrated education training system that meets the needs of the community and industry in all regions of the state. The roll-out of the training mentor program over the next three years and the development of a more effective planning model will result in an increase and improvement in the education and training services provided in the regions.
I thank the member for this question. I have been provided with the following information by way of an answer. The Department of Education and Training is in the process of developing a more effective and efficient regional planning model. As the TAFE colleges deliver more than 90 per cent of publicly-funded training in regional communities, it is intended to develop a much stronger role for the colleges in providing analysis and advice on regional training requirements. In this context the department already has made arrangements to place a number of the regional coordinators-planning into regional TAFE colleges. In other regions, the colleges will be provided with additional funding to support the enhancement of the planning function. In addition, as a consequence of the state government’s commitment to raise the school leaving age, a number of training mentors are in the process of being appointed across the state. These positions will provide a valuable resource to the community by linking young people to appropriate education, training and employment opportunities. Each of the regional coordinators was offered a transfer into a training mentor position. The government remains strongly committed to the provision of a comprehensive and integrated education training system that meets the needs of the community and industry in all regions of the state. The roll-out of the training mentor program over the next three years and the development of a more effective planning model will result in an increase and improvement in the education and training services provided in the regions.

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