More than 60 critical TAFE jobs in northern Victoria are set to be scrapped under a major restructure which would have devastating economic and social impacts.
Regional Victoria's largest vocational education provider Goulburn Ovens TAFE (GOTAFE) is planning to cut 61 professional staff in a proposed restructure that will directly impact a total of 117 roles, with the remainder to be redeployed or in changed jobs.
If GOTAFE's fourth restructure in five years goes ahead, it will mean overall staff numbers have been slashed from 594 to 413 full-time equivalent jobs.
That's despite a significant annual increase in enrollments across its Shepparton, Seymour, Benalla, Wallan and Wangaratta campuses, which are up 500 to 6500 students.
Northern Victoria has faced significant job losses in recent years at SPC, Dhurringile prison, Billson's in Beechworth, while concerns about health funding cuts have sparked anxiety throughout the community.
NTEU Victorian Division Secretary Sarah Roberts said:
"If these job losses go ahead, the economic and educational consequences for northern Victoria will be felt through the entire community.
"Staff are absolutely shattered by the prospect of people they see every single day at the shops becoming former colleagues.
"Despite federal and state governments making lofty TAFE promises, critical jobs that are the heart and soul of the system are on the chopping block.
"GOTAFE teachers simply won't be able to cope with 30 per cent of student support staff being cut.
"The Victorian government must urgently step in to save these jobs or risk enormous consequences for regional Victorian students and their communities.
"These are the devastating real-world consequences of the chronic underfunding of Victoria's TAFE system."
