The development of TAFE in Australia GILLIAN GOOZEE © 2001 National Centre for Vocational Education Research Ltd ISBN 0 87397 692 4 web edition TD/TNC 65.11 First published 1993 Revised edition 1995 3rd edition 2001 Published by National Centre for Vocational Education Research Ltd ABN 87 007 967 311 252 Kensington Road, Leabrook, SA 5068 PO Box 115, Kensington Park, SA 5068, Australia m e t s y S y t i al Qu Quality Endorsed Company ISO 9001 Lic. No. 4331 Standards Australia 2 The development of TAFE in Australia Contents Acronyms......................................................................................................... 5 1 Introduction................................................................................................. 8 2 Historical background................................................................................ 11 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 11 The establishment of technical education in Australia .......................................................... 11 Technical education 1890–1914.......................................................................................... 14 Technical education 1920–1940.......................................................................................... 16 Technical education 1940–1970.......................................................................................... 18 Commonwealth Government intervention in education to 1970.......................................... 19 3 The Whitlam years 1972–1975 .................................................................. 22 Australia in the early 1970s.................................................................................................. 22 Pressures for change to technical education ......................................................................... 23 The Kangan committee ........................................................................................................ 24 ACOTAFE recommendations................................................................................................ 25 The significance of the Whitlam years for TAFE.................................................................... 28 4 Commonwealth policy directions 1976–1982............................................ 31 The Fraser Government’s policies ........................................................................................ 31 The Commonwealth Tertiary Education Commission ........................................................... 32 CTEC’s policies for TAFE...................................................................................................... 34 Major government reports.................................................................................................... 35 Impact of Commonwealth Government policies on TAFE .................................................... 37 5 Changes in TAFE 1976–1982..................................................................... 39 Overview............................................................................................................................. 39 New South Wales ................................................................................................................ 39 Victoria................................................................................................................................ 41 South Australia..................................................................................................................... 43 Western Australia................................................................................................................. 45 Queensland ......................................................................................................................... 47 Tasmania ............................................................................................................................. 47 The Australian Capital Territory............................................................................................ 48 The Northern Territory......................................................................................................... 49 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 49 6 The early years of the Hawke Government................................................. 52 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 52 Labour market programs ...................................................................................................... 53 Review of TAFE funding....................................................................................................... 55 The demise of CTEC............................................................................................................. 56 The Australian Conference of TAFE directors........................................................................ 58 NCVER 3 7 The late 1980s ........................................................................................... 62 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 62 Australia reconstructed.........................................................................................................62 Skills for Australia ................................................................................................................ 63 The establishment of the National Board of Employment Education and Training ............... 64 The restructuring of higher education................................................................................... 65 Industrial award restructuring............................................................................................... 66 The National Training Board................................................................................................ 67 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 69 8 Restructuring of State TAFE systems............................................................ 70 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 70 Northern Territory................................................................................................................ 70 Victoria................................................................................................................................ 71 Australian Capital Territory .................................................................................................. 73 Queensland ......................................................................................................................... 73 South Australia..................................................................................................................... 75 Western Australia................................................................................................................. 75 Tasmania ............................................................................................................................. 76 New South Wales ................................................................................................................ 76 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 77 9 From TAFE to VET...................................................................................... 79 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 79 The Deveson report ............................................................................................................. 79 Establishment of the Vocational Education, Employment and Training Advisory Committee............................................................................................................. 80 The Finn report .................................................................................................................... 81 The Carmichael report ......................................................................................................... 83 Commonwealth funding of TAFE.......................................................................................... 83 The ANTA Agreement.......................................................................................................... 85 State/Territory arrangements................................................................................................. 86 The Australian Qualifications Framework............................................................................. 88 Review of national training reforms...................................................................................... 89 White Paper: Working nation............................................................................................... 89 From TAFE to VET................................................................................................................90 10TAFE in the late 1990s ..............................................................................