National Conference for TAFE Directors Australia 2011 Australia Directors TAFE for Conference National National Conference for TAFE Directors Australia 2011 Balancing the Big Issues Occasional Paper OSHC Worldcare provides peace of mind • 24 hour, seven days a week assistance line and help when you need it most. • simple no-claim access to doctor network Three Three 2011 Allianz Global Assistance is one of the leading suppliers of quality heath cover for international To find out more please contact: students. We have been helping international Brett Slatter – National Business Development Manager students for over 11 years through our specialised Occasional Paper Three 2011 [email protected] or 07 3305 9825 product—OSHC Worldcare. www.oshcworldcare.com.au Tenth in the series Our strength is in providing services that are tailored to the needs of international students. Through OSHC Worldcare we provide: • on-campus representatives • a dedicated website with multilingual content TAFE DIRECTORS AUSTRAIA National Secretariat Sydney Institute of TAFE NSW Turner Hall (Building B) – Ultimo College Barista Coffee Sponsor Cnr Mary Ann and Harris Streets Ultimo NSW 2007 Our Postal Address TAFE Directors Australia National Secretariat Sydney Institute of TAFE NSW Ultimo College PO Box 707 Broadway NSW 2007 Telephone: 02 9217 3180 Lanyard Sponsor Facsimile: 02 9281 7335 Email: [email protected] Website: www.tda.edu.au Australian Government Bronze Sponsors Offcial Supporters Gala Dinner Sponsors Gold Sponsor Exhibitors Table Displays Silver Sponsor Media Partners Preface 1 and the New South Wales Minister for Education, the Hon. Adrian Piccoli MP, outline how they thought the VET sector should be positioning itself to respond to the big issues. Delegates were informed and, at times, provoked by presentations by experts from the United States of America (USA) on the implementation of the ‘green’ skills agenda, a topical issue for Australia and by colleagues from the United Kingdom, USA and Canada who provided important insights into the opportunities and challenges in the provision of higher education in further education. The Conference Dinner, a highlight of TAFE Directors Australia (TDA) Conferences, was held this year at one of the world’s iconic venues, the Sydney Opera The TAFE Directors Australia 2011 National House. This year delegates and guests were both Conference, Balancing the Big Issues was held on entertained and informed by presentations from 4–6 September at the Sheraton on the Park, Sydney. Thérèse Rein, Founder and Managing Director of The Conference was the most ambitious to Ingeus Limited and His Excellency Pedro Pablo Diaz, date: seventy-three presenters including eleven Ambassador of Chile. international speakers. There were three hundred Occasional Paper Three 2011 brings together papers and fifty-three delegates, and thirty-five emerging and summaries of keynote addresses and panel leaders who participated in a professional presentations. We acknowledge with gratitude development program over the three days of the the valuable input of each of our presenters and Conference. facilitators. The title of this year’s conference, Balancing the We very much appreciate the generous support of Big Issues: TAFE 2011 challenged presenters and our sponsors which, as always, is integral to the delegates to review the critical issues facing success of our conferences. vocational education and training (VET) leadership Next year our conference will be held in Perth and in an uncertain environment: industry skills trends in we look forward to your participation in what we are a low carbon economy, a connected tertiary sector, confident will be another stimulating event. internationalisation, the ‘patchwork economy’, contestable markets and the new regulatory framework. Conference delegates heard our political leaders, the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Pam Caven Workplace Relations, Senator the Hon. Christopher Director Policy and Stakeholder Engagement Evans MP; the Federal Shadow Minister for National Secretariat, TAFE Directors Australia Employment Participation, the Hon. Sussan Ley MP; Conference Organiser 2 Conference ratings Some common 96% rated the Conference as ‘good’, ‘very messages good’ or ‘excellent’ Excellent use of specific topics, panel presentations, and focused table 95% agreed that ‘The discussions discussions – much better than long contributed to my understanding of the speeches issues’ … networking with TAFE sector leaders 90% agreed that ‘The Conference delivered and emerging leaders; making new on its aims’ contacts and cementing current ones The balance of national and international viewpoints Insights into broader economic and social issues Ministerial addresses – policy level insights – the big picture view! The message of flexibility and the need to compete in a global market TAFE in the tertiary sphere – higher education/degree discussions Offshore TAFE – sound advice from experienced panellists Welcome 3 Dear Colleagues This year we welcome a number of international On behalf of the Board of TAFE Directors Australia, we are delegates. We are delighted that we have on the delighted to extend a warm welcome to the 2011 TAFE conference program colleagues from government and Directors Australia Conference hosted this year by TAFE community organisations in the USA with expertise in the NSW. implementation of the ‘green’ skills agenda. Similarly, we The TDA National Conference 2011, Balancing the Big welcome colleagues from the USA, UK and Canada who Issues: TAFE 2011 will review the critical issues facing are able to provide invaluable insights into the lessons vocational education and training (VET) leadership learned in their countries from the continuing expansion in an uncertain environment: industry skills trends in of higher education in further education.TAFE CEOs have a low carbon economy, a connected tertiary sector, nominated emerging leaders – our TAFE leaders of the internationalisation, the ‘patchwork economy’, contestable future. You will get to know them during the course of the markets and the new regulatory framework. Conference. At last year’s conference, Dame Jackie Fisher (Newcastle Our thanks go to the Conference’s official supporters: College, UK) challenged delegates to set ambitious TAFE NSW - New South Wales Department of Education aims and deliver on promises in the face of volatile and Communities, and the Department of Education, circumstances. VET leaders must manage complex Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR); CISCO and competing demands, and changing industry and as gold sponsor, and Fuji Xerox as a silver sponsor. We government priorities. VET leadership is an act of balance, also thank our other TAFE sector commercial product and requiring great skills and a deft touch. service bronze sponsors and exhibitors for supporting the 2011 Conference. TDA is the national peak body representing the interests of Australia’s 59 publicly funded TAFE institutes. Every We look forward to your contribution to a stimulating, year, our members provide education and training to over lively consideration of the big issues challenging VET 1.7 million Australians seeking new skills and training. leaders. The Alumni Gallery at the Conference is testimony to the great contribution TAFE graduates make to the Australian economy and society. STEPHEN CONWAY Chair, TAFE Directors Australia MARTIN RIORDAN CEO, TAFE Directors Australia 4 4 Contents Shadow Ministerial address Preface – Pam Caven 1 The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Federal Shadow Minister for Employment Participation 35 Welcome – Stephen Conway and Martin Riordan 3 USA-Australia: sustainability, engagement and Pre Conference session Sunday 4 September 2011 6 ‘green’ skills training Emerging Leaders Forum 6 Establishing the business case for a USA-Australia Conference speakers and panellists ‘green’ skills learning exchange Monday 5 September 2011 8 – Mindy Feldbaum 41 Welcome addresses Developing the workforce for a sustainable and equitable future – Marcy Drummond 44 to country by Glenn Doyle Technicians in the ‘Green’ economy to the TDA Conference – Stephen Conway, Chair, – Dr V Celeste Carter 47 TDA Stream 1: Why should TAFE offer higher by the Hon Adrian Piccoli MP, NSW Minister for education? Education Panel presenters: Panel session: A balancing act ... Linda Brown 50 Strategic directors for VET: radical reform or business as usual? – Robin Shreeve 10 Kevin Harris 52 Who should drive the VET system: providers or Wayne Collyer 55 industry? – Bob Paton 13 Nicholas Hunt 58 Contestable funding and uncapped higher Stream 2: Offshore TAFE education: clear skies or stormy weather? – David Williams 15 Panel presenters: TAFE Australia: stitching together the patchwork Mark Howland 61 economy – Sue A Slavin 19 Marie Hill 64 National Skills Standards Council Richard Clifford 68 The Hon John Dawkins AO Stream 3: The new regulatory policy landscape Panel session: Wealth of resources – or Topic speaker: Dr Dianne Orr 72 patchwork economy? Panel presenters: Keynote speaker: Keith Spence Martin Riordan Panel presenters: Pat Forward 77 The size of the LNG industry – Miranda Taylor 23 Conference Gala Dinner 80 Where must more be done to meet Australia’s skills needs? – John Coyle 28 Conference speakers and panellists Tuesday 6 September 2011 81 Structural change or terminal decline? – Dr Phillip Toner 31 Welcome Day 2 – Early morning news – how the media conveys issues of skills and training Global