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AUSTRALIAN TECHNICAL COLLEGES – THE FIRST TRANCHE

15 July 2005

The Howard Government today announced the first 12 Australian Technical Colleges to be established in Australia.

This is a major step towards meeting the Australian Government’s election commitment to establish Australian Technical Colleges in 24 regions across Australia.

Minister for Vocational and Technical Education, Gary Hardgrave, said 73 proposals for the Colleges were received. Each of the 24 chosen regions had a strong industry base with an identified skills need as well as a high youth population.
 
“The proposals were proof of the overall enthusiasm within these communities for the Australian Technical College initiative. In fact, two very strong proposals were received for Adelaide so the Australian Government has decided to build on our commitment to Adelaide and establish two Colleges in the region,” Mr Hardgrave said. 

The Government will commence negotiations with successful applicants immediately to establish 12 technical colleges in 2006 and 2007.  The colleges for the remaining regions will be announced later this year.
 
The first Colleges to be established will be in the following regions: 

A strong case was made that the Adelaide region could support two Colleges, given its manufacturing base and resulting large number of trades occupations. The Government has therefore decided to support two proposals in the Adelaide region, one to be based in the northern area and the other with campuses in the southern and western areas of the city.

A number of these Colleges want to commence operations in 2006 while others require more time to establish operations and meet State government registration requirements.

The Opposition has delayed the Australian Technical Colleges (Flexibility in Achieving Australia’s Skills Needs) Bill 2005, which will provide funding for the Australian Technical Colleges by referring the Bill to a Senate Committee. The legislation provides $344 million over the period 2005-2009 to support the establishment and operation of the Colleges.

Funding cannot flow to the new Colleges until the legislation is passed. However, the Government is determined to ensure its timeline is met and is making this announcement now to enable Colleges time to plan for a start in 2006.

“In three of the other regions, two proposals were assessed as equally suitable.  I will be proceeding to negotiate with the groups which submitted these proposals with a view to developing a single, joint proposal in each region building on the strengths of each of the proposals. The three regions are The Hunter, Northern Tasmania and Brisbane North. I expect to be able to announce a successful outcome in these regions shortly,” Mr Hardgrave said.
 
“In the remaining regions, the Department of Education, Science and Training will work with some of the groups which submitted proposals to help them strengthen these.

“We are confident of successfully negotiating a positive outcome in each of the remaining 13 regions. The Government is determined to have a direct relationship with local communities and business to respond to the local skills needs in each of the 24 regions.

“This is a powerful and innovative response to strengthen Australia’s vocational and technical education system and promote pride and excellence in the acquisition of trade skills. The Government has been very encouraged by the strength of the response to this initiative since its announcement during the 2004 election campaign.”


Media contact: Suzanne Ferguson 0402 896 100

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