Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
UPDATE 1.55pm: Minister for Higher Education and Skills Nick Wakeling said the government had no control over training institutes' staff numbers and course offerings.
His comments come after education organisation BRACE announced cuts to jobs and courses.
The cuts affect three teaching staff in Bendigo and about 20 long-term unemployed residents between the ages of 16 to 53.
"The changes introduced by Labor in 2008 forced training providers to compete for the first time," Mr Wakeling said.
"This demand driven system means funding is dependent on the number of students enrolled.
"The Napthine Government is investing $1.2 billion each year in Victoria's training system - a 50 per cent increase from Labor's last budget in 2010.
"Over the next four years, a further $5.2 billion has been committed to Victoria's training system."
UPDATE 12.45pm: BRACE chief executive Sue Cattermole says the decision to cut three staff and two programs in Bendigo was necessary because there was no market demand to continue them.
Ms Cattermole said BRACE had been trying to attract students for about 12 months but could not justify its courses for such a small number of students.
"We’re just responding to the market and to our contracts," she said.
Ms Cattermole said the federal government contract to fund BRACE's programs was ending this year and could not be extended into 2015.
“We have had to make some tough decisions about where we are heading in the future as a community based adult education & training provider," she said.
"Having to break the news to the staff affected was very difficult and my thoughts are with staff and their families."
Ms Cattermole said Bendigo students studying children's services would finish their qualification by the end of the year and that those in the Skills for Education and Employment program could continue through other organisations in Bendigo.
"I just don’t know where those students particularly will go, but there will be another provider," Ms Cattermole said.
"Those students doing the children's services course will not be impacted.
"I’m pretty certain they will complete their course this year.
Ms Cattermole said BRACE had invested heavily in Bendigo but that the market for education and training was saturated.
"There are quite a number of providers in the Bendigo area that provide exactly the same course as we do," she said.
She said there would be support for the one permanent and two casual teaching staff losing their positions in Bendigo.
"There will be a range of supports provided to them. As an organisaiton we always endeavour to support all employees."
BRACE has also cut jobs and courses in other locations across the state.
EARLIER: EMPLOYEES at government-funded education and training organisation BRACE are devastated after finding out their jobs and the courses they taught were axed.
An employee of BRACE in Bendigo who does not wish to be identified said management went to BRACE's offices across the state yesterday to have a 'refocus meeting' with staff.
"They led people to believe that they were refocusing the structure of the organisation in which they clearly told us what courses were not continuing but used the words 'contraction in delivery', which to my understanding means the process becoming smaller," the employee said.
"However that was later clarified by another person that it meant facing cuts."
The employee said after further clarification with management, it was clear teaching positions and course had been cut, effective from today.
BRACE's Bendigo branch teaches a children's services course and provides a Skills for Education and Employment program to about 20 long-term unemployed people aged 16 to 53.
"Long-term unemployed people who are now making some progress in their desire to gain a qualification and go further with more advanced courses," the employee said.
"To watch peoples' personal growth with the community services course has been so rewarding.
"I’m devastated.
"I had so much positive feedback from other people in the industry, who have said what a fantastic course, what a fantastic benefit to these people.
"And it’s just been taken away."
The employee said BRACE's presence in Bendigo was small but important.
"It’s a small wing of what they have but it was a wing that was just early stages and had the potential to grow."
BRACE recently amalgamated with another employment and training organisation, Skillsplus.
The employee said Skillsplus in Bendigo knew nothing of BRACE management's intentions to cut staff and courses until it was announced yesterday.
The employee said BRACE never fully committed to its presence in Bendigo.
"It was like they put them in as a trial and then never did anything more about making them the success that they could be."
The employee said a member of management said during yesterday's meeting that he knew BRACE had a bad reputation in Bendigo.
They said BRACE had been mismanaged and the need to lay-off employees and cut courses was not the government's doing.
The employee said management's handling of the cuts was misleading because they recently offered courses for 2015.
"I don’t believe this decision was made over-night, to be offered the courses when I’m pretty sure they had already made their decision."
The Bendigo Advertiser is seeking comment from BRACE management, Skillsplus and the government.