RELATED: Possible merger looms for TAFE
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
THE stand-alone regional TAFE model could be under threat.
The regional TAFEs are particularly under pressure ...
- Peter Coyne
Bendigo TAFE has been in the spotlight this week after a leaked report from the Victorian Auditor General’s office.
The report reveals Bendigo TAFE is in serious financial trouble with half of the state's TAFEs running at a loss after savage government cuts.
Bendigo TAFE acting chief executive Peter Coyne has since confirmed he has been in negotiations with Melbourne’s Kangan Institute about a possible merger.
"The regional TAFEs are particularly under pressure because they really have small bases to work off," Mr Coyne said.
"We have about 9500 students spread across our catchment.
"Kangan has in excess of 50,000.
"So the larger metropolitan colleges really do have enormous reach in that sense.
"And you really do have to have scale to compete now in a contestable market ... you're seeing a real move from smaller registered training organisations to some very, very large and well capitalised businesses.
"And that's where we have to compete and at the moment they're winning the lion's share of the government purse for training.
"We really want to wrestle as much of that back as we can."
My Coyne said Bendigo TAFE was "looking at the future". He maintained no decision had been made regarding a merger.