Animal care is one of the courses taught at TAFE. Photo: stock
THE NSW Government has agreed to a three-year 10.5 per cent pay deal for almost 9000 state TAFE teaching staff.
In addition, TAFE will also no longer compete with private training providers as it is removed from competing in the privatised Smart and Skilled market and given its own annual budget.
The deal consists of a 3.5 per cent pay rise (and 0.5 per cent superannuation boost) for 2024-25; a 3 per cent pay rise annually in 2025-26 and 2026-27 and another 0.5 per cent boost to super in 2025-26.
The government says over 90 per cent of teaching staff, backed by the NSW Teachers Federation, voted to accept the government’s 10.5 per cent baseline pay offer.
It also moved more than 1700 casual teachers and support staff into permanent roles from the beginning of this semester.
NSW federation president Henry Rajendra welcomed the news on all fronts.
“The federation enthusiastically welcomes the strengthening of TAFE NSW with more than 1700 teachers transitioning from casual to permanent roles starting earlier this term,” he says.
“We also commend the removal of the constraints of contestable funding market on TAFE NSW and the introduction of a new three-year enterprise agreement that delivers solid pay increases to some of the most essential educators in NSW.”
He says TAFE remains “critical” to vocational education and training in the state.
MINISTERIAL REACTION
Industrial Relations Minister Sophie Cotsis says the pay decision “is a good step forward but there is always more work to do”.
Skills and TAFE Minister Steve Whan says he is “delighted” by the TAFE teaching staff’s acceptance of the offer.
“We’ve heard from teachers that they want to see reform in TAFE NSW alongside the increase in pay, this agreement builds on reform by no longer requiring TAFE NSW to compete with private training providers for funding,” he says.
“Removing TAFE NSW from the competitive (Smart and Skilled) market was a key recommendation of the government’s VET Review.
“It will result in a major reduction in administrative burden for TAFE NSW …”
