TAFE SA CAMPUSES IN MAYO

Federal Member for Mayo Rebekha Sharkie has called on the major parties to invest more than half a million dollars into urgent upgrades at TAFE SA facilities in Mayo.

Most of the work needs to be done at the Mount Barker campus to bring the construction, automotive, community services and hospitality facilities up to modern standards.

“TAFE and similar training organisations have been the poor cousin when it comes to investing in post-secondary education in the past decade, and nowhere is that more evident than in South Australia,” said Rebekha, Centre Alliance’s Education Spokesperson

“University isn’t the only pathway to employment and we need the facilities to train the carpenters and mechanics of the future, not to mention building up the trained aged care and disability care workforce we are going to need.

“I know from my work in the education sector and my regular meetings with local educators that we need some urgent capital upgrades at the Mount Barker and Victor Harbor TAFE SA campuses.

“Both campuses are located in rapidly growing areas with Mount Barker set to be the second largest city in SA in the next 30 years with a population of more than 56,000 by 2036.

“The size of both campuses, and the age of their facilities, will significantly restrict the quantity and quality of courses they can offer our young people if we don’t act now.

"We also know that Kangaroo Island has limited TAFE facilities and so the major parties should consider supporting an integrated partnership with KICE (Kangaroo Island Community Education) to expand the training footprint on the Island.

“We want our young people to stay in our regions and in South Australia so I call on the major parties to invest in quality training.”