Over 60 jobs at risk despite rising enrolments at GOTAFE

By Taylah Baker

Aug 9, 2024

**GOTAFE may be the next organisation suffering major job losses in northern Victoria.**

Regional Victoria is on the verge of facing significant job losses at its largest vocational education provider despite a surge in student numbers.

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Goulburn Ovens TAFE (GOTAFE) is reportedly planning significant staff reductions that threaten more than 60 support staff positions over a proposed restructure, according to the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU).

The NTEU has stated that this proposed reorganisation is expected to affect 117 roles in total through redundancies, redeployments and job alterations.

Sarah Roberts, the NTEU Victorian branch secretary, warned of the broader impact these cuts could have.

“If these job losses go ahead, the economic and educational consequences for northern Victoria will be felt through the entire community,” she said.

“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.”

This unsettling news comes in the wake of an enrolment boost across GOTAFE’s campuses in Shepparton, Seymour, Benalla, Wallan and Wangaratta.

Collectively, these campuses witnessed a growth of 500 students or nearly 10 per cent, reaching 6500 in the past year.

Ms Roberts expressed concerns over the sustainability of the remaining staff, estimating that the cuts could reduce support staff roles by 30 per cent.

“The Victorian Government must urgently step in to save these jobs or risk enormous consequences for regional Victorian students and their communities,” she said.

“These are the devastating real-world consequences of the chronic underfunding of Victoria’s TAFE system.”

Addressing the concerns, a spokesperson for Skills and TAFE Minister Gayle Tierney noted that the Victorian Government has invested more than $2 billion in regional TAFEs since taking office.

“Our thoughts are with the workers and their families that have been impacted — we understand GOTAFE is consulting with staff and unions and will provide support to any affected staff,” she said.

The potential reduction in GOTAFE’s workforce, marking the fourth such restructure in five years, would see the overall staff number dramatically reduced from 594 to 413 full-time equivalent positions.

This stir comes against a backdrop of notable job losses in northern Victoria, including significant cuts at SPC, Dhurringile Prison, and Billson’s in Beechworth.

TAFE has been contacted for comment.