As I work for a TAFE Provider, ill make a couple of comments:
Its very hard to get good trades teachers. Why put up with the low wages and job insecurity, most are sessionals or contract. We have some very dedicated teachers who have low job security.
The teachers do have the power to fail them, but the $$ return to the TAFE is much less for a NC or WD result.
WE (GOTAFE) have invested over $13million in the last 4 years in Traditional Trades facilities, but then see private providers who work out of the back of a truck poach employers by offering to train their apprentices off campus/on site for less$$.
With all the Commonwealth Money around at the moment, every high school seems to be putting in a new trades wing to teach Cert 3's with no industry connections. I worry about the job competency of these students.
We work in partnership with employers, and employ Centre Managers and Industry liaison staff to ensure the employer gets what they want. Our Industry Satisfaction results are running at 90% plus. We have some big ones, SPC, Furphy's, etc, who take a big interest in their Apprentice's training program. It would be great if all employers did this.
We actively form linkages with young students and schools thru VCAL programs, and then work to get the students into work experience programs in our TAFE Tester programs. We have had many great ongoing employment stories come from this program, particularly Koorie Students.
We then wonder why Metropolitan funding models are then applied to Regional areas, and force us to drop programs that increase workforce capacity at a local level, but only just break even, forcing local kids to have to seek further studies away from home. Very disheartening for all.