On National TAFE Day, Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips MP has thanked all our amazing TAFE teachers and vocational educators for their work supporting students through a difficult year.

Drought, bushfires, flood and coronavirus have had a far-reaching impact along the South Coast, causing heartache for many and requiring teachers to quickly and effectively shift the way they work.

As a former TAFE teacher, Fiona Phillips understands the valuable role that TAFE plays in training essential workers like nurses, aged care workers, childcare workers, builders, plumbers and more. A strong vocational education sector will also be essential as part of our economic recovery moving forward.

“This year more than any has highlighted the importance of vocational education. I have seen first hand the difference it can make to people’s lives and I know how important TAFE is to positive outcomes for local people,” Mrs Phillips said.

“What we have seen from our TAFE sector is resilience, innovation and support and I am truly thankful for all the efforts local workers have made to help our community get through this,” she said.

“The reality is, the Liberals have cut more than $3 billion from TAFE and training. Across Australia, we are seeing a critical shortage in some of the sectors that will be most critical to our community’s recovery from this year of disasters.”

“We simply must invest more in TAFE now to make sure we have the workforce we need for the future,” Mrs Phillips said.