Fears for mums’ career cuts

By LIA SPENCER
A FORMER manager at Chisholm is furious that recent TAFE funding cuts could create a major obstacle for single mums getting back into work.
Di Saunders, who was the manager of the Administration and Customer Service Teaching Department before she retired in 2009, said most of the students in the Chisholm TAFE courses in her department were single mums or mothers wanting to return to work.
“I am very angry with what is happening,” she said.
“Almost all the TAFE colleges cut business administration training.
“It’s about these women who now don’t have an avenue of training.
“These women wanted to improve their skills or gains skills and get the confidence they need to get back into the workplace – these avenues have now been cut off.
“If you have been out of the workplace for a while, you can’t just slot back in.
“You need to redevelop your skills. That’s what this admin course provided – life skills.”
Ms Saunders said her frustrations weren’t pointed at just one political party because she thought both were to blame for the cuts.
“It’s not a political thing because it started with the Labor Government. The Liberal party just continued,” she said.
“And I don’t think they specifically targeted women, but it’s just a consequence of the cuts.”
Ms Saunders said she was also concerned about the cuts to staff at Chisholm.
Last week, Narre Warren South Labor MP Judith Graley said the TAFE funding cuts were a “kick in the gut” to every young Casey female who wanted to do a Chisholm course.
Ms Graley said that an analysis by the Victorian TAFE Association revealed that the $290 million in cuts would disadvantage women students in TAFE on average twice as much, and up to five times more than males.
Ms Graley said that the State Government had now created further barriers to women seeking to upskill, forge a new career path or re-enter the workforce.
Ms Graley said the association discovered that courses popular with women would have their funding cut by up to 85 per cent.
“The courses set to be savaged include courses in children’s services, hospitality, retail, business administration and community services,” Ms Graley said.
“This is a kick in the guts to every young woman in Casey who wanted to do a course at Chisholm.”
But Skills Minister Peter Hall said VTA claims that courses “popular with women” would be funded at a lower rate were outrageous and not backed by facts.
“I categorically reject the VTA’s assertion that Victorian women engaged in vocational education will be worse off under the recent funding reforms,” Mr Hall said.
“The TAFE Association has looked at 10 courses undertaken mostly by women and in at least some of the classes, lied about the impact of the recent reforms.
“Funding for high level certificates in children’s services and community services have actually increased by up to as much as 8 per cent. The TAFE Association’s statements amount to lies.”
Mr Hall’s spokesperson James Martin said the State Government had been able to disprove Ms Graley’s claims and was, in fact, directing an extra $1 billion over the next four years into training courses that would deliver real jobs to women and men.
“An independent report from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research has confirmed that Victoria invests more in vocational education and training than any other state,” Mr Martin said.
“Once again this highlights that the first casualty of Ms Graley’s political war against the government is truth.”